Geraldine Williams

Funeral service for Geraldine “Gerri” Williams, age 95, of New Hope, formerly of Milaca, will be held on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at 1 PM at Zion Lutheran Church in Milaca with Rev. Stephen Blenkush officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Interment will take place at Chase Brook Cemetery near Milaca at a later date. Geraldine E. Williams was born March 23, 1919 to Lorenze and Lettie (Ziegler) Sahli in New Castle, PA. She grew up in Youngstown, OH and graduated from South High School. She worked for Ohio Edison Power Company as an operator. Gerri later enlisted in the U.S. Women’s Army and was stationed at Camp Crowder, MO during WWII. While at Camp Crowder, she met Roy Williams and they were married on February 9, 1946 at Brownleewood United Presbyterian Church in Youngstown, OH. They were blessed with one son, Mike, who was born May 3, 1947. They made their home in Ohio until 1956, when they moved to Milaca, MN. Gerri worked as a waitress at the Nordic Cafe in Milaca and as a secretary at Zion Lutheran Church. She was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church, the Milaca American Legion and the Legion Auxiliary. She passed away on Thursday, November 27, 2014 at North Ridge Care Center in New Hope. She is survived by her son, Mike (Bev) Williams of Brooklyn Park; grandchildren, Jackie (Brian) Courrier of Albertville, Joe Harris of New Hope and Jodi (Paul) Freitag of Otsego; seven great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Lorriane Williams of Milaca; also by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy and sisters, Vesta Moyer and Louise Van Howten.