Marian Gering, 100
Visitation and viewing for Marian Gering will be at Walter Funeral Home in Freeman, S.D., on Sunday, April 27 with family present from 5 to 7 p.m., and memory sharing at 7 p.m. A memorial service will be held at Salem-Zion Mennonite Church, rural Freeman, on Monday, April 28 at 11 a.m. with lunch to follow. Memorials can be directed to Heritage Hall Museum, the Et Cetera Shoppe in Freeman and Salem-Zion Mennonite Church.
Marian Ruth Gering, age 100, passed away April 18, 2025 at Oakview Terrace Nursing Home, Freeman. She was born April 6, 1925 to Rudolph P. and Tillie (Matilda) Graber at the family farm. She described herself as “the son her dad never had.” From childhood into her young adult years she helped her father herding cattle, running the harrow and picking rocks for a penny a piece.
Marian attended District #65 Brookside Country School and then Freeman Academy graduating in 1943. She did Voluntary Service at a Ypsilanti MI hospital in 1945. She graduated from Freeman Junior College in 1947.
On Nov. 23, 1951 she married Earl Gering and settled in Freeman. Their first child, Ellen Jane was born prematurely on Jan. 17, 1953 and passed on Jan. 18, 1953. They welcomed daughter Garnet Jean on Oct. 23, 1954 and son, Bradley Joe on Aug. 9, 1956.
Marian taught school for a total of 10 years. Her first teaching job was at District #66 Northstar. She took a break when her children were young and returned to the classroom from 1964 until the end of the 1968-69 school year.
In 1964 Earl and Marian, along with Ray and Ilene Anderson purchased Eldon’s Implement, a farm equipment business, and incorporated it as Freeman Implement. Marian and Ilene handled accounting for the business. Earl and Marian assumed sole ownership in 1973. She continued to work until retiring in 1988.
Marian indulged her love of geography by traveling throughout the years. The trips she planned were always educational focusing on natural attractions and historical sites. She and Earl enjoyed hosting friends and family from all over the world.
Marian served the church and community as a volunteer. She was a life-long member of Salem-Zion Mennonite Church where she taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, served as deaconess and was active in Women in Mission. She enjoyed supporting the Freeman Hospital Auxiliary, and also volunteering at Heritage Hall Museum and the Et Cetera Shoppe into her 90’s.
She delighted in spending time with her grandchildren, sharing her love of reading, doing puzzles, playing games and baking.
In 2010 Marian and Earl sold their home and moved into Walnut Street Village. Earl passed away in October 2010. Marian remained at Walnut Street until moving to the Salem Mennonite Home in January 2023. In February 2024 she became a resident at Oakview Terrace.
Marian was predeceased by her parents, husband, two sisters and spouses, Florence (Claire) Ellerton, Jane (Herman Evers) (Daniel)Gagliardi, and sister and brothers-in-law Pearl (Christ) Kaufman, Linda (Curt) Pankratz, Ada (Paul) Schrag, Mary (Harold) Graber and brother-in-law William Gering. She is survived by her daughter Garnet (Lyle) Perman of Lowry, S.D.; son Bradley (Marian Robin) Gering of Freeman; five grandchildren: Luke (Naomi) Perman of Lowry, Kajsa (Chris) White of Franklin, Tenn., Daniel Gering, Freeman, September Gering, Manhattan, Kan., and Grace (Sean) Nicolaus, Sioux Falls; eight great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Lucille Gering of Mishawaka, Ind.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
