Barbara Jo Geertsen
1949-2021
Barbara Jo Bateman Geertsen died on Sunday, December 19, 2021, while on vacation in Costa Rica. Born April 2, 1949 in Ogden, Utah, to Joseph Eldon Bateman and Dorothy Ovena Jorgensen Bateman. Married Leonard Ray (Lenny) Geertsen for eternity July 12, 1968 in the Salt Lake Temple.
Barbara loved the Lord and has been an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She often shared testimonies with family, friends, and others she had just met.
As a teenager, she loved horses and rode her own horse, Sugar, in the July 24th parade with her Midvale Equestrian Club. She also loved the many boating, camping, fishing, and hunting trips that she shared with her family. After their marriage, Lenny shared these trips with her family. On one such trip, her father Joe suggested that it was time for him to buy the Starcraft aluminum boat and make it a fun activity for their growing family. As Barbara’s children grew up, water skiing trips to Flaming Gorge and Lake Powell were added. Morris’ weeklong family reunion in Bear Lake became a favorite for her family, and last summer her family enjoyed their 51st annual trip.
Barbara loved high school and her many friends in Hillcrest, where she led the huskies to cheer. She graduated from Hillcrest in June 1967 and was honored with the Miss Midvale Award later that summer. She was on her way to the Miss Utah pageant, but those plans were interrupted when Lenny proposed marriage to her on Christmas Eve. She gave up her “Miss Midvale” crown to marry her sweetheart.
Barbara first met Lenny on a blind date organized by her Alpha Chi Omega sister Marlene Geertsen. It was Halloween night, and when he picked her up, Barbara’s mother picked him up at the door, who applied Elmer’s glue to his upper lip and chin. Soon he was wearing a mustache and a goatee. That was her first look at him. They had a memorable first date as the “Two Musketeers”. Lenny moved quickly afterward and was deeply in love in no time. After only 8 weeks, he proposed marriage to her on Christmas Eve.
Your family came quickly. She had 5 children and gave birth to her last child 2 days after her 29th birthday. She wanted an even bigger family, but endometriosis stopped that dream. She loved her family, which has now grown by 19 grandchildren.
At the age of 22, with 2 children in tow, Barbara wrote and directed her first road show for Parley’s 5th Ward. She loved music and played the flute in the Mountain West Symphony Orchestra. She also gave flute lessons to many students.
Barbara and Lenny loved to dance and especially enjoyed taking cruises for Brian Judd Tours because it gave them the opportunity to dance to live music for hours every night.
She served two missions with Lenny. The first in over 3 years as a missionary on Temple Square. The second was in the youth prison where she taught Sunday school for 3 years. She had many other church vocations throughout her life, mainly in elementary school and with young women. She loved the opportunity to serve.
Barbara leaves behind her husband and five children: Gary (Sandra), Angie (Greg), Tom (Cathy), Scott (Tamara), Dan and 19 grandchildren. Siblings: Brent (Lary Ann), Bonnie and Bob (Chris).
She was preceded in death by her parents, 3 siblings who died in childbirth, Betty Lynn, Jan and Barton, and a son-in-law Darrin Wilson
A tour will be held on Thursday, December 30, 2021, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at LDS Church, 2115 E Creek Road, Sandy, Utah. The funeral will take place on Friday, December 31, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. with a tour from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., LDS Church, 2115 E Creek Road, Sandy, Utah.
–
Published by Deseret News from December 28th to December 29th, 2021.
Comments are closed.