Marla Gerber
November 18, 1937 ~ September 23, 2019
Marla Gerber, 81, of Gettysburg, passed away Monday, September 23, 2019 at Sanford Hospice Cottage, Luverne, MN, surrounded by her loving family.
Funeral services was held at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, September 28, 2019 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Gettysburg, with Pastor David Otten presiding. Visitation was held one hour prior to the service. Burial followed in the Gettysburg Cemetery.
Marla was born November 18th, 1937 to H.V. “Buck” and Lura Mae (Pratt) Smith on the family farm near Herford, SD. She spent her childhood near Viewfield, SD and later moved to Kennebec in 1945. Marla graduated from Kennebec High School in 1956 where she participated in cheerleading and played basketball for the Kennebec Canaries. After High School, she attended Southern State Teachers College in Springfield, SD earning an Elementary Teaching Degree in 1957. She taught three years in a country schoolhouse in Sully County. Other jobs she held included waitressing at her parent’s cafe, bookkeeping and later becoming the American Family agent in Gettysburg in 1984 where she retired in 1999.
In June of 1957, Marla met the love of her life, Gerald Gerber, while on a double-date with her sister Joy and Jerry Bieber. Gerald and Marla married on June 6, 1959 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Gettysburg. From this union came four children. Gerald passed away suddenly in May of 1988. She later married Calvin Reuer.
Marla was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church where she served on altar guild and LWML. She was an excellent bowler with her highest score being a 276. She loved sports and attended many Battler games with her church family. Grandma Jeanie also spent as much time as she could attending many of her grandchildren’s events. Marla served on Gettysburg Country Club Board, American Legion Auxiliary and was Booster Club President.
Those left to cherish Marla’s life include her children: Dayla (Mike) McDonald, Cambridge, MN; Greg (Angela) Gerber, Gettysburg, SD; Terry (Julie) Gerber, Canton, SD; Lauri (Mike) Wenninger, Luverne, MN; Sister: Sandra (Dale) Nauman and Brother-in-Law Jerome Bieber all of Gettysburg, SD; 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Gerald and Calvin; sisters, Marcine and Marilyn Joy.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Marla’s arrangements.
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Dear family of Marla, Our sincere heartfelt sympathy to you at the loss of one so dear. May our good and gracious Lord comfort you now and in the days ahead with His perfect love and amazing grace. Blessings to you and kindest regards in Christ, The Klatt's
I'm so sorry , prayers and sympathies to you all. Marla and I had some great times when we worked in adjoining offices. I think of her often.
Hi Family,
Words seem so feeble in moment like this. I pray for strength and healing within all of you. Life is so precious and Marla was a beautiful woman and I am soooo Blessed that I was able to be around her and all of you for so many years. Marla was like a grandma I never had. I remember leaving Marla May Day baskets and flowers from my moms garden for many years. One year she caught me because I ran down the front porch slipped and fell and got up and ran across the street to my moms. Lol, she walked out and just giggled because she was probably watching me from her window. Y’all are wonderful and loving & were so good to us growing up. Marla will be truly missed dearly. I am thinking about you all and will be praying for healing and mending hearts. Love you.
Our deepest sympathy to the Gerber family. Marla was a one of a kind individual. She always made us feel very welcome when she was in Luverne for a visit. She will be missed by family & friends.
Jeanie was my older cousin. She was a sweet, kind, bright and fun person who I admired. Jeanie and her sisters all had that great smile and laugh. I think they inherited that from Aunt Lura Mae. I thought Sandy was so lucky to have those “cool” older sisters. The last time I saw Jeanie was when she and Jerry Bieber drove to Pierre to pay their respects at my father’s funeral. It meant so much to us. We send our love and support to her family and please know how much others feel she enriched our lives. Fondly, Connie and Dick Bowen and family
To the family of Marla,
Words seem so useless at this time. Your mother was a very lovely lady, I can remember going to her house when I was younger for Girl Scouts. After having lost my dad in June I wish I had magical words to ease the pain, but there are none. Memories are what get me through each day, and what I call the 3 F's, family, friends, and faith. God Bless you and may you each in your own way find comfort.