Gerda "Geri" Maxine Heim, 80, of Redfield, passed away peacefully Monday, August 28, 2017 at Community Memorial Hospital in Redfield, SD with family by her side.  Her memorial service will be Friday, September 1, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Congregational United Church of Christ with Rev. Tammy Toepke-Floyd officiating. Pastor Lorah Houser Jankord will officiate her burial in the Rockham Cemetery.

Visitation will be Thursday, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a Prayer Service and Eastern Star Service beginning at 5:00 p.m., at the Eastern Star Chapel in Redfield. Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. (www.thelenhykefuneralhome.com)

Geri Maxine Heim was born September 30, 1936 to Francis Maxine Smith and Donald T. Ruddy in Aberdeen, SD.  She was raised from the age of 3 by her grandparents, Catherine and Clayton Trowbridge.  She spent a great deal of her childhood at the Redfield Sale Barn and she loved to tell stories about her memories and time spent there.  She attended school in Redfield until the age of 16 when she met the love of her life, Lowell "Tiny" Benning.  Her grandmother would not let her get married until she was 17 years old so on her 17th birthday, she and Tiny were married.  They had 3 children, Candi, Cyndi and Tim.  The family moved to Lodi, California in 1963 where they lived and raised their family for over 30 years.  During that time, Geri earned her GED and became a Registered Nurse, working in a field of helping others, which she loved dearly. She and Tiny returned to Redfield in 1994.

Geri was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star for 50+ years and loved serving her dual chapters as WM and Grand Representative.  She was an active member of the UCC, having served on multiple committees.  There wasn't an organization she belonged to that she wasn't strongly active!  She was either President, Secretary, or Treasurer of the VFW, American Legion, CMH Auxiliary, Sarah Helene Circle, and Women's Fellowship.  She couldn't be "just a member" of any organization but took an active role in every organization she belonged to.

In her spare time, Geri loved to travel, quilt, sew, cook, crochet, read and spend time with her family and friends.  She made the best apple pie ever and fried chicken was her specialty! Geri lost Tiny in December 1995.  In 1998, she met and married Joseph Heim to whom she was wed until his death in 2016.  Geri lived a full life and, having buried two husbands and two kids, was ready to "go".

Those that will miss Geri the most include her daughter Cyndi (Jerry) Bachman; two grandchildren Amy (Jayme) Akin and Brian McFadden; and eight great-grandchildren: Cameron, Brandon, Zachary, Kyleigh and Isaiah Akin; MacKenzie, Hailey and Scott McFadden.  She is also survived by her step-son, George Heim; her brother William T. Gallipo; her very special long-time friend, Viola Hardie and many nieces and nephews.

Geri was preceded in death by her grandparents; parents; husbands, Tiny and Joe; son Tim A. Benning; daughter Candi (Terry) Deem; brother Robert Trowbridge; a nephew and multiple brothers and sisters-in-law.