Gertrude "Gert" Strand

1929 - 2022

Gertrude (Gert) Strand, 92, of Scobey died on January 12, 2022 at the Daniels Memorial Hospital in Scobey. She was born April 14, 1929 in Plentywood, Montana to Esmer (Roderick) Fink and John Peter Fink.

Gert attended St. Thomas in Great Falls her freshman and sophomore years winning the Geisey Foundation award her freshman year. She attended Plentywood High School her junior and senior years and graduated from there.

On March 31, 1953 Gert married Roger Lee Iorge. To that marriage one child Brenda Ann was born June 08, 1954. They divorced July, 1956. Gert married Marvin (Buzz) Strand November 08, 1962. His children Deborah and Terrie came to live with them; Brenda was adopted by Buzz, making a family of five.

Gert was proud to have a chauffeurs license.

In April, 1949 Gert began a 32 year career with Mountain Bell, working in Plentywood, Culbertson, Wolf Point and Glasgow. Gert took the last call to the Glasgow office before it was switched over and the office terminated. She moved to Billings to accumulate the time she needed to retire at age 54.

Gert was a member of the Telephone Pioneers, Moose Lodge, and Huntley Garden Club.

Gert was a Catholic with a deep belief in God.

Gert loved horses, dancing, cake decorating, cooking and trying new recipes. She and Buzz enjoyed collecting and selling antiques and vintage items through their small store in Huntley, MT. Crocheting and gardening were favorite pastimes. Family was most important to Gert and she always remembered birthdays and anniversaries.

Survivors include daughters Brenda Kerstein of Scobey, MT; Terrie Kallem and her husband Chester (Butch) of Ulm, MT; and Deborah Daly and her husband Ken of Miles City, MT; five grandchildren—Rocky, Roxanne, Coy, Briana and Alyssa; six great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and several cousins.

Gert was preceded in death by her parents John and Esmer Fink; her siblings Theresa Trewyn and her husband Duane; Joseph (Chub) Fink and his wife Phyllis; her husband Marvin (Buzz) Strand; and her son-in-law Richard Kerstein.

Services will be held June 24, 2022 at 10AM at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Plentywood, MT.

Father Arumugam Ananda Kumar will be officiating the service.

Interment of Gert and Buzz’s remains will be at the old section of Plentywood Cemetery immediately following the service. Lunch will be served at the church following interment.