Geraldine Ann Beyer

(October 5, 1931-January 29, 2026)

Geraldine Ann Traeger was born on Oct 5th, 1931, to Anthony and Grace Traeger in Timberlake, SD. She was the sixth of nine children. When she was 5 years old, her family fled the Dust Bowl conditions in South Dakota and moved to Oregon. The family felt they had reached the perfect destination when they arrived in Mt. Angel; a Catholic farming community with many opportunities for work and provisions for the family including fruit falling off the trees.

Geraldine (Gerry) completed first grade at McKee School, a one-room schoolhouse between Woodburn and Mt. Angel. The family moved into town at the end of that school year and set up their household. She began second grade at St. Mary's School and then eventually on to high school at St. Mary's Academy.

After graduating high school, she began working as a bookkeeper at Farmers Union Warehouse on Main Street (Wilco). There she crossed paths with a handsome young man who had returned from the Marines after World War II. John Beyer had been working on his family's farm and then had begun working seasonally at the Warehouse.

John and Gerry were introduced at a New Years Eve party. After a short engagement, they were married at St. Mary Catholic Church on Sept 6th (Labor Day), 1954. Over the next 12 years they welcomed seven children.

In 1960 they purchased a farm one mile south of Mt. Angel where they raised the children and crops, including berries, wheat, alfalfa, and a few head of cattle. John had a daytime job and was a farmer in the evenings and on the weekends. Gerry was the consummate farmer's wife…she supported John in every way while raising the children and taking care of the home. During the summers she ran the berry crew and kept the kids working on the farm as well. The farm became a welcoming location for so many family and friends. Gerry hosted countless bridal showers, baby showers, prayer meetings, sing-alongs, and family gatherings around the holidays and on any given day.

Gerry was always very active in the community. Her involvement in the St. Mary Parish included the Catholic Daughters, helping with all care of the church and community as well as many dishes provided for funerals. She was a Eucharistic Minister for many years and taught religious education in the schools. She was an avid learner in terms of her spirituality and loved to attend Bible studies, read books, and listen to lecture tapes while working in the kitchen.

Nothing compared to Gerry's love for her family and friends. She volunteered to help others in any way possible and that often included babysitting the children of family and friends to "help out." One of her gifts was her real interest and involvement in the lives of ALL the generations. She knew the names of all the spouses, children and grandchildren of her nieces and nephews in the Traeger and Beyer families. Each of them knew that they were special to "Aunt Gerry."

Gerry had a sincere heart for people of every age and a sincere passion for the sanctity of life. Throughout her years she championed the causes of Natural Family Planning, Pro-life education and candidates, and also ministered to the dying.

The final years of John and Gerry's lives were spent at Mt. Angel Towers. The family would like to express their appreciation for all the staff that cared for both of our parents and especially Mom in the four years after Dad's passing.

In addition to her children, Ruth, Ron (Laura), Doug (Deana), Kathy (Jack) Belleque, Janet (Scott) Sanders, Joan (Greg) Puckett and Lisa (Dave) Holt, Gerry is also survived by twenty-seven grandchildren and twenty-seven great-grandchildren as well as her sister, Regina Schiedler.

Gerry was preceded in death by John, her husband of 67 years, grandson, Michael, and siblings Leo Traeger, Sr. Antoinette Traeger, Margaret Bernard, Mary Schurr, Monica Stuckart, Fran Traeger, and Tom Traeger.

A Rosary will be held at St. Mary Catholic Church, Mt. Angel on Wednesday evening, February 4th at 7 pm. The Funeral Mass will be on Thursday, Feb 5th at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gifts be made to St. Mary Catholic Church, Mt. Angel, Oregon.