Gerald Christ Reinlasoder

POPLAR - Wednesday, May 30, 2012, saw the passing of Gerald Christ Reinlasoder at Billings Deaconess Clinic due to pneumonia.

Gerald was born on Feb. 28, 1929, in Poplar, to Christ and Sena (Arneson) Reinlasoder. He grew up and lived most of his life in Poplar. Gerry, as he was known to his friends, had met our mother Dorothy Delores Ferguson of Wolf Point. She was very impressed by the tall, strapping man with the curly blonde hair and after Gerald entered the U.S. Army he realized how much he loved and missed her. He wrote to her asking her to be his bride. She boarded a train in Wolf Point and joined Gerry in Columbus, Ga., where they were married on April 20, 1949. They recently celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary still so very much in love.

In August 1950 Gerry was given orders to fight in Korea and Dorothy, pregnant with their first child, boarded the train back to Wolf Point to live with her parents while Gerry was shipped off to war. Gerry served with the 3rd Recon Company of the 3rd Infantry Division through some of the fiercest combat of the Korean War including the infamous Chosin Reservoir and the Hungnam Evacuation. He made it home in September 1951.

He and Dorothy lived in Wolf Point for a time and then returned to Poplar where Gerry managed his father's tavern, Buckhorn Bar, for many years. He then farmed with his Uncle Gerald Stevens until he began a career in law enforcement starting with the Poplar Police Department in 1966. He retired as a deputy sheriff for Roosevelt County in 1991 and started up a small engine repair business in Poplar. Being a peace officer in every sense of the word is where he made his greatest impression on people. He was respectful, caring and kind to all he came in contact with in his career. It made no difference to him what your status in life was as he made friends with people from all walks of life. Gerry was proud of the fact he had become a deacon of the First Presbyterian Church in Poplar and he had a deep and personal relationship with the Lord.

He is survived by his wife Dorothy and children, Larry (Tori) of Billings, John and Karl (Jeanie) of Poplar, Susan (Bernard) Dodd of Lanigan, Saskatchwewan, Canada, Karen (Glenn) Garske of Salem, Ore., and Kelly (Renee) of Cheney, Wash. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Vernon, grandson Carlos and his in-laws Frank and Jessie Ferguson.

Cremation has taken place and graveside services are planned in Poplar at a future date. Rest in Peace, Koshka. Until we meet again on the other side, "see Dad see."

Gerald Reinlasoder