GERALDINE MARIE (FINNEY) MICKELSEN

Funeral services for Geraldine Marie (Finney) Mickelsen, 90, will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, April 14, 2022 at the Memorial Baptist Church in Wheatland, Wyoming with Pastor Chris Furl officiating. Interment will be in the Wheatland Cemetery.

Geraldine Mickelsen passed away on Sunday, April 10, 2022 at the Platte County Legacy Home.

Geraldine Mickelsen was born on Monday, October 12, 1931, the daughter of Gerald and Florence (Friel) Finney in McCool Junction, Nebraska.

Geraldine moved with her family to their ranch in the sandhills at Seneca, Nebraska in 1933. She was the fifth born of ten children. She attended country grade school and then high school in Seneca, where she graduated in 1948.

On November 4, 1948 she was untied in marriage to Einer Bjegaard Mickelsen. They moved to the LD Ranch at Bordeaux, Wyoming. To this union, four children were born; Michael “Mick”, Karen, Richard “Dick” and Rick. Geraldine was a housewife until the family moved to Wheatland in the early 60’s. She then ran the family chicken farm. After Einer was elected Platte County Sheriff in 1967, the family moved into the basement of the courthouse. As the wife of the Sheriff, she cooked for the inmates. She also worked as a radio dispatcher for 25 years. She was an active member of the Wyoming Dispatchers Association, serving as state president for several years. She was an active member of the United Church of Christ. Geraldine loved watching her great grandchildren play sports. She logged many hours each summer on a bleacher bench. She was an avid sports fan and hated to miss a game.  Geraldine was married to Dan Hodges on October 8, 2005 and together they spent two happy years together before his death in 2007. She lived at her home on Front Street until January, 2020 before moving into the Platte County Legacy Home until the time of her death.

Geraldine is survived by her children, Mick (Vicki) Mickelsen, Richard Mickelsen, Karen Bennett all of Wheatland, and Rick (Jody) Mickelsen of Thermopolis, Wyoming; grandchildren, Levi (Brooke) Mickelsen, Erin Coates,  Abby Mickelsen, all of Wheatland, Libby (Sean) Taylor of Berthoud, Colorado, Zach (Karisa) Bennett of Torrington, Wyoming, Zane Bennett of Oak Harbor, Washington, Nate Mickelsen of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Jake Mickelsen of Loveland, Colorado, Brock Mickelsen of Salt Lake City, Utah; great grandchildren, Tagg, Camryn, and Halle Mickelsen, Rylee, Kaed, Ayden and Brode Coates all of Wheatland, Daniel, Hope and David James Bennett of Torrington, and Ben Mickelsen and Josh Mickelsen both of Cheyenne; sister, Kathy (Sam) Ogle of Lincoln, Nebraska; brothers, Frank (Jeriann) Finney of Winner, South Dakota, Pat Finney of Merna, Nebraska; and sisters-in-law, Linda of Omaha, Nebraska, Maxine of Lincoln, Nebraska, Tootie of Alliance, Nebraska, Helen, June of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Dorothy of Omaha. Other survivors include many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Geraldine is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Einer; sisters, Dorothy and Barbara; brothers, Tom, Don, Paul, and Roger; and son-in-law, Roy Bennett; and second husband, Daniel Hodges, in January, 2007.

Serving as pallbearers will be Levi Mickelsen, Nate Mickelsen, Zach Bennett, Zane Bennett, Jake Mickelsen, and Brock Mickelsen.

Friends and family may call at the Gorman Funeral Home -Platte Chapel in Wheatland from 1:00 to 5:00 P.M. on Wednesday, April 13, 2022.

Please join the family for lunch at the church immediately after the burial.

Memorials may be made to a charity of your choice in Geraldine’s name.

The Gorman Funeral Homes – Platte Chapel of Wheatland are in charge of the arrangements.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.gormanfh.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of GERALDINE MARIE (FINNEY) MICKELSEN, please visit our floral store.