Gerald Albertson

A Celebration of Life for Gerald Ray Albertson will be held on June 30th at the Glenrock Golf Course (933 W. Grove Street, Glenrock, WY) with lunch at noon and a release of balloons. Gerald left this earthly life on February 23rd and entered the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for all eternity. Gerald was born on October 5, 1947 in Camp Crook, SD to Clarence E. Albertson and Ruth I. (Anderson) Albertson. Gerald grew up in the small town of Nisland, SD where he spent his early years exploring every open field, body of water, and tree. Gerald's love of exploring and playing just about any sport he could was fueled by his love of learning. Gerald was a graduated from Newell, SD high school in 1965 where he excelled in football and basketball. In December of 1966, Gerald was inducted into the Army where he trained and became a medic. Because Gerald loved to travel and see new places the highlight of his Army career was seeing Italy and Germany. In September of 1975, Gerald met the "love of his life", Glenda J. Wurtz. On November 5, 1976 Gerald and Glenda were married in Newell, SD thus beginning their journey in life spanning over 42 years together. Soon after their marriage Gerald returned to college pursuing a degree in education with an endorsement in coaching. In August of 1979 Gerald graduated with a Bachelor's degree from Black Hills State College (Spearfish, SD). Immediately following his graduation he began his first teaching job in North Platte, NE thus beginning a career teaching and coaching that would span over 25 years and taking he and his family to Nebraska; Oklahoma; Mississippi and Wyoming. The many people they met along the way became life-long friends. Gerald's love for learning prompted him to return to school thus began his education at the University of Southern Mississippi (Hattiesburg, MS) where he earned both his Master's and Doctorate degrees in Educational Administration. Gerald loved to learn and was always reading, researching, and sharing with others any new found knowledge and ideas throughout his life. Gerald's faith and love for God directed his life and to that end he raised his family to love the Lord as well. He taught Sunday School classes and enjoyed sharing with anyone and everyone about the love of God and his own personal salvation story of having been "born again" at the age of 37. Those who knew Gerald will be able to enliven him through their memories, now that his final chapter has been written; his purpose in this earthly life having been accomplished and his spirit being called home to his Lord and Savior: Jesus Christ. Entering the world we know on October 5 th, 1947, Gerald's life embodied a handful of passions: first and foremost, his dedication to his heavenly Father; following closely, his communion with family, friends, and his fellow man; an enthusiasm for sports; a predisposition towards adventure and exploration; as well as pursuing his hunger for knowledge. These passions all tied together with the thread of humor. An ideal he held about a good many matters was that if something was taken too seriously, it ceased to be fun. Since becoming reborn in Christ, Gerald spent his time sharing his love for his Savior in many ways. His mornings were usually comprised of a hot cup of coffee while reading his devotional followed by reflection. Gerald never tired of investigating the word of God, always finding a new message in the Scriptures that he would savor and share. He endowed others with the Word as a Sunday school teacher, being involved in Bible Studies, and through conversation. He often dispensed the Good News to others, knowing to be true, it was the main purpose we have been called to do as servants of the Lord. Although Gerald was not a man about town, he treasured every moment spent with the people he loved, whether it was family or friends; Gerald was a true conversationalist. His amazing ability of listening to stories long and short, happy or sad, exuberant or mournful, made you feel appreciated. Solicited or not, he would be sure to share a piece of timely advice. He was never opposed, in fact welcomed, any conversation that involved a mug ofjoe and a good laugh, often as the deliverer of numerous comedic quips. Sports of all types interested Gerald. From a young age, Gerald developed an attraction to basketball and football that he followed throughout his life. He spent so much time with these two sports as an adolescent that his father warned him that his head was sure to turn into a basketball, or football - depending on the season. This love for any game led him to play, referee, and coach basketball, football, and baseball throughout much of his life. Although he was intense as a coach, he was also humorous while on the sidelines - singing "Home on the Range" within earshot of supposed hometown referees. He enjoyed attending games as a spectator as his children and grandchildren also inherited a love of athletics. Later in life, Gerald took up golf, and, once again, became lovingly obsessed with learning, practicing, and sharing his knowledge. An adventurer's spirit seemed to be in his blood. Growing up in rural South Dakota, the backdrop provided opportunities for traversing and scouting nearby fields and streams. Gerald shared numerous stories of his youth where he would always be willing to accompany an older brother on some sort of fool's errand or road trip. His time spent in the Army in the mid 1960's, allowed him to sojourn in Germany and Italy, while football provided him an opportunity to spend time in Australia. He cherished all of those memories, and was not one to accept quiescence as an option in life. Never was this more evident than in his almost nomadic tendency to move with his family from one place to the next like clockwork. The wanderlust's call of 'what's over that horizon?' only becoming quieter, but never going away. To which his children later questioned if they were gypsies. Yet this immersion in other cultures and places, meeting many people along the way who became life-long friends, were benefits of these travels. This also provided the family to have many memories and conversations of "Remember the time when. . . While it is most likely true that Gerald initially obtained a degree in teaching for the ability to coach the sports he loved, it is evident that he was truly a teacher at heart. He was well read and held information like a sponge, and was always ready and willing to share what he knew. He was not limited to the subject of English, which he taught for over 25 years, but he was also fascinated with history. He easily remembered dates, could converse as to the cause and effect of world events, and would explain their correlation to the present. He discovered his love for teaching after a few years in the classroom, and went back to school himself to earn a Master's and Doctorate in Education. Retirement only meant that he no longer had a classroom in a public school, but it never stopped him from helping others grow and better themselves. If there was a topic he wanted to know about, he would research it and become an instant expert on the subject in an unpretentious way. Never to be limited in his search for knowledge, he became skilled in navigating the web and, in recent years, he found himself becoming "Google certified" in many areas. Gerald exited this world we know on February 23 rd, 2018, surrounded by his family. His greatest adventure and purpose coupled with living for the Lord, which he often expressed, was leaving his family a foundation to continue building on. The family he chose to create in November 1976 with the love of his life, Glenda. This foundation being solidified will continue to be a legacy to his wishes and he will never be forgotten. To paraphrase Pastor David Gibson, Gerald had it right: his door was always open, there was nothing he had that he wouldn't share with those in need, he loved his family and was loved by them, he was a God fearing man who strove to know his Savior on a personal level, and he held fast to the Word. Left behind and grateful to have shared in his life are his wife, Glenda and their 5 children and 11 grandchildren: Rebecca Albertson (Kennie Schneider) and their daughter, Kayla; Rachel (Mark) Yocum and their children (Gabrielle; Allison; Victoria); Amanda (Matt, Jr) Miller and their children (Jossilyn; Raiden; Cadence); Matthew (Desiree) Albertson and their children (Addison; Brooklyn; Kendal); Aimee Albertson and her son (Bhodin Barnett) as well as a son from Gerald's first marriage, Todd P. (Ann-Margaret) Albertson and their children (Tess, Ryan, Dylan, Cole). Two brothers: Frank (Ann) Albertson of Lakewood, CO and James Albertson of Sturgis, SD along with two sisters: Eleanor Travis of Evanston, WY and Charlean (Melvin) Swanson of West Fargo, ND along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Gerald was preceded in death by his parents: Ruth and Clarence Albertson and two brothers: Roland Albertson and Wayne Albertson. Memorial contributions in Gerald's memory may be made to Vision Beyond Borders, P.O. Box 2635, Casper, WY 82602, visionbeyondborders.org. "I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one's lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor -- it is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it." -- Ecclesiastes 3:12-14 "Even the anatomy of a river was laid bare. Not far downstream was a dry channel where the river had run once, and part of the way to come to know a thing is through its death. But years ago I had known the river when it flowed through this now dry channel, so I could enliven its stony remains with the waters of memory." -Norman Maclean "A River Runs Through It and Other Stories" "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord... that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them." ~ Revelation 14:13, NKJV