Obituary of Geraldine Oerter

Geraldine (Gerry) Elise was born April 10, 1927, to Edward R. and Helen Louise (Lund) Blaser (Blah-zer) in Columbus, NE. She attended Columbus schools and graduated from Columbus High School in 1945. She came to Boulder to go to college and graduated from CU with a BS in Pharmacy in 1949. She worked as a pharmacist at the Boulder Medical Center from 1970-1980. Gerry then pursued a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from Fuller Theological Seminary, which she received in 1982, and spent the remainder of her working years in private counseling practice. She retired in 2000 and enjoyed living at Frasier Meadows Retirement Community from 2000 to her death. A celebration of Gerry’s life will be held on Friday, April 10, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. at First Presbyterian Church, 1820 15th St. Boulder. Private family burial was held at Mountain View Memorial Park Cemetery. She led a very active life in Boulder with her husband, Michael C. Trent, whom she married when they were both still at CU in 1949. They raised three children: Michael E., Bruce C. and Leslie Anne. Mom was the consummate stay-at-home mom during those happy years and she served our family with a great deal of love and creativity. During these years she was active in helping out at the elementary schools her children attended, a long time member of her P.E.O group, and what turned out to be over 50 years of membership in the Common Readers Bookclub. Mike and Gerry enjoyed CU football and many social activities. He passed away quite unexpectedly in an accident in 1971. Gerry’s life became more focused around her membership (since 1952) at First Presbyterian Church of Boulder in her widowed life. She participated in the intensive Bethel Bible Study Teacher Training and taught this curriculum at the church for many years. She also served on a panel of teachers to train lay level counselors for the church’s new counseling program from 1979-1980, just before she left Boulder for Fuller to pursue her professional study of counseling. She remained active in the ministry when she returned to Boulder after graduating in 1982. During the span of her active years at First Pres Gerry also served 3½ different terms as a Ruling Elder at First Pres. Although she enjoyed all of her activity at the church in loving, gracious, faithful competent way, her service as an Elder filled her with the most joy. In her latter years, she continued to broaden her Biblical understanding through attending a pastor taught class called Early Risers, which was also a great joy to her. Gerry married Robert N. Oerter, Jr, pastor of First Presbyterian Church following the death of his wife, Betsy (1983), on September 7, 1985. They had a delightful relationship, doing joint counseling work together, traveling and enjoying all the grandchildren their marriage brought together. When Bob died in 1991 she mourned his loss deeply but soon became involved in continuing to share the love and hope of faith in Christ in the living of the rest of her years. She is so dearly loved by her family and friends. We certainly cannot hold her back from answering the call of her risen Lord to eternal life in Him and becoming everything in Christ that she was meant to be, to His glory. The family thanks the Frasier Meadows Health Care Center for their loving care for Gerry. Survivors: Sons: Michael E. Trent (Judy Rhodes), Scottsboro, AL Bruce C. Trent (Tere), Los Alamos, NM Daughter: Leslie Trent Conger (Alan), Boulder, CO Step-sons: John D. Oerter (Lucia) Paul G. Oerter (Jane) Step-daughters: Sarah Oerter Black (James), Lexington Park, MD Rachel Oerter Sharp (Richard), Tyrone, GA Gerry’s Sisters: Clarice Blaser Everett, Kearney, NE Virginia L. Blaser Seberg, Wheatridge, CO 20 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren