Marilyn Geiger

Marilyn Thelma Kurtz was born June 30, 1927 in Dimondale, Michigan.  She was the last born child of Albert and Clara (Benson) Kurtz.  Marilyn grew up in the Lansing area and graduated from J. W. Sexton High School.  For a few years she worked as bookkeeper for the Michigan Crippled Children’s Commission to support her parents.  Later she moved with her family to a Co-op in Clarkesville, GA where she met her future husband.  On April 26, 1952 Marilyn was united in marriage to Elwood Geiger in Jacksonville, Florida where they resided and supported his parents.  In Jacksonville she held various jobs including office administrator at the Duval County Mental Health Clinic and at the Jacksonville University School of Nursing, but after the birth of their daughter Amy, she worked out of the home.  For over 50 years she was a partner in her husband’s forestry consulting business.  In 2003 Elwood and Marilyn officially retired and moved to Belle Fourche, South Dakota.

Marilyn enjoyed crafts of many kinds including oil painting, basketry, needlework, wood burning, and metalwork.  In her youth she won awards in International Folk Dancing competitions.  To learn more about her husband’s relatives and her own, she did extensive genealogical research and over time became a well-known family historian.  She also enjoyed travelling with her family, and summer vacations were one of the many highlights of her life.

Following complications from a stroke, Marilyn passed away at the age of 91 at Hospice of the Hills in Rapid City where she received excellent care.  Private services will be held.

Marilyn is survived by her husband Elwood and daughter Amy along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.  She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Warren and Mark Kurtz, and sister Carmen Stanaway.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Hospice of the Hills and the Spearfish Kiwanis Club.

To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Marilyn Geiger, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.