Charles “Chuck” Edward Gestring passed away on August 8, 2022. He was born to Elizabeth Brooks Gestring and Edward Gestring in 1932 at the home of a midwife. They lived south of Kalispell at Balls Crossing.
In 1933, the family moved to the 80-acre farm at Creston. Charles attended Cayuse Prairie Grade School, Flathead County High School, Montana State College (now MSU), and Oregon State University. Summer labor on Hungry Horse Dam and at the Anaconda Aluminum Plant helped pay for college. In 1954, Charles was selected for the International Farm Youth Exchange to India. IFYE was sponsored by 4-H clubs with the goal of better understanding among people. He spent 1955 to 1957 in the army with boot camp at Fort Carson, CO, and service with the Presidential Honor Guard at Fort Myers, VA.
Charles began his teaching career at Broadus, MT, followed by 24 years in the Great Falls school system. At Broadus, he met and married JoAnn Granfor from Dunn Center, North Dakota. Their marriage proved to be a very good one, lasting 61 years. Bonnie and Rhonda were born to this union.
Chuck and JoAnn were active members of Redeemer Lutheran Church. Chuck served on the Great Falls Teachers Credit Union Board, Cascade County Conservation Board for 14 years, volunteered at Habitat for Humanity Restore for many years, and built hundreds of bird houses for the Bluebird Society as well as planting 550 trees for a bird habitat. Of special interest to Chuck was traveling, gardening, fishing, and hunting. Family was always most important to Chuck. Wife, JoAnn, was truly the light of his life.
He is survived by his wife, JoAnn; daughters, Rhonda (Brad) and Bonnie (Bruce); grandson, Logan (Marisa) Thompson; granddaughter, Avery Thompson; and great-grandson, Declan Thompson. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Mary Svennungsen; and brothers, Bob and Brad.
A memorial service will be held on August 27, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Habitat for Humanity of Great Falls, Montana Audubon Society, or Redeemer Lutheran Church of Great Falls.
