Geraldene Thorne Halstrom

Our beautiful, intelligent, fun, hard-working, unselfish, and dedicated mother passed away on May 13, 2026. Mom lived her life with spunk, self-determination, and personal values she shared by example: family, hard work, gratitude, humility, financial responsibility, self-reliance, honesty, forgiveness, service, and personal and collective responsibility.

Geraldene was born on December 1, 1931 to Ora West Thorne and Joseph LeRoy Thorne in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Geraldene loved living in her family home at 64 North 2nd East, Pleasant Grove, with her parents and four siblings: Joseph, Diane, Charlyn, and Gayle. She learned to work hard picking fruit in orchards, berries in fields, canning at the local beet factory, and working at her father's grocery store. Early on, Geraldene learned the value of hard work and she shared this value by example with her children. Throughout her life Geraldene loved visiting and sharing her life's memories of her childhood and teenage years living in Pleasant Grove.

As a young girl, Geraldene excelled at playing the piano and won several local and state music competitions. As a senior at Pleasant Grove High School, she "captivated the audience and judges alike at the 15th series of the Intermountain Parade with her polished playing of Warsaw Concerto." She also performed for many social gatherings in Pleasant Grove and written notes of gratitude are found from that time period. Geraldene graduated from Pleasant Grove High School in 1950 (her name misspelled in the yearbook as Geraldine - - a lifelong angst) with an epitaph of "fun and pep." Her children will always treasure her, "fun and pep," as their mother who shared her energy and "can- do" attitude towards life and life's possibilities.

The summer after graduation, Geraldene traveled to Ithaca, New York to live with her brother, Joe, and sister-in-law, Margaret Adams Thorne, in their home (110 College Ave) to study music and to begin working as a stenographer for Dr. John K. Loosli at the Animal Nutrition Laboratories at Cornell University. It was a rewarding few years and a much loved adventure working for Dr. Loosli while pursuing her interests in piano.

Geraldene, a physical beauty who emulated small-town goodness, met the well-dressed, and dashing, Robert Lee Halstrom from American Fork,Utah. Robert (Bob) was enrolled at Utah State University after serving in WWII in the Pacific arena, including Guam, GuadalCanal, and the Philippines. When Bob traveled home from Utah State University to be with his mother, Iva, he attended BYU dances. When Geraldene met Bob at a BYU dance, he drove a stylish convertible Rambler and an Indian motorcycle. But it was who he was that made her love him; He was kind, respectful, smart, hard working, and he valued family and community. Bob was also adventurous! Geraldene snow skied for the first time at Timp Haven (now Sundance) with Bob and his mother, and family friends! Bob's family outboard motorboat also offered opportunities of great fun on Utah Lake.

Robert and Geraldene were married in the Salt Lake City Temple on September 10, 1952. They started their new life together in Pleasant Grove, a block away from Ora and LeRoy Thorne's home in Pleasant Grove.

Geraldene was a proud mother of three children (Robert Brent, Charlyn, and Carolyn) and wife to an aspiring businessman in the automobile industry. Geraldene worked as a secretary at Geneva Steel Works, when her mother, Ora, encouraged her to become a public school teacher. Ora was a classroom teacher in Alpine School District at Central Elementary School. It was not an easy decision to make but Geraldene (with Bob's support) made a decision that she never regretted. Geraldene enrolled at Brigham Young University and engaged in the academic work necessary to earn her university degree in elementary education. On May 29, 1969, Geraldene earned her B.A. in Elementary Education from Brigham Young University!

Geraldene applied for and earned her first teaching job in Alpine School District at Sego Lily Elementary, Lehi, Utah in 1969. At the end of the school year, May 1970, Geraldene transferred to another Alpine School District school, Forbes Elementary School, American Fork, Utah. As a second grade teacher, Geraldene was firm but fair in her professional commitment to teaching her students. Regardless of the hours required, she wanted her students to excel in the areas that would support their future academic success: reading, spelling, mathematics, history, science, fine art, citizenship, and personal responsibility. In 1987, Geraldene became the Music Specialist for grades 1-3. This was a popular Christmas assembly that included the talents of individual students utilizing percussion bells to celebrate the Christmas holiday with familiar tunes. In 1992 she moved to the 3rd grade CORE classroom. Geraldene retired from teaching in Alpine School District on May 27, 1995; 26 years as a full time contracted teacher. She worked hourly for two more years during the 1996 and 1997 school years. Geraldene truly treasured her friends at Forbes Elementary: fellow teachers, staff, and administration. The memories they shared stayed with Geraldene throughout her life.

While Geraldene pursued her professional goals, Bob was doing the same in his career as an American Motors dealership. Hardworking as always, Bob earned a trip to Bermuda, with Geraldene, after winning a national sales contest for the best sales person in American Motors. This was just the beginning for Bob as a business entrepreneur who later incorporated Jeep, Crestliner, Mercury Marine, and snowmobiles. Bob and Geraldene held a personal vision for their family that involved an acre of land on a hill that included a pristine view of Mount Timpanogos and Utah Lake. It also included a "tremendous" amount of work by all family members. That said, working as a family was followed thereafter (sometimes the next day) by a boating and water-skiing trip on Utah Lake. As children, we were "All In!" The adventurous attitudes of Bob and Geraldene and available "play vehicles" were incorporated into family recreation time - - boating and camping,fishing, water skiing, snowmobiling, snow skiing, and exploring National Parks. The family home located at 1069 Queens Drive, American Fork, Utah (current address) is a place that encompasses rich lifelong memories.

Our mother embraced her role as wife and mother. She was selfless in supporting her husband and children. Mom always gave unconditional love to her children and she always encouraged her children to be their personal best! She was a tireless supporter of her family and always placed her husband and children above herself. Mom taught us to value hard work, explore new talents, love family, and treasure family traditions. She promoted and understood the benefits of education (through personal experience) and planning for the future. She was an enthusiastic participant in our activities: snow skiing, snowmobiling, water skiing, camping, golfing, hunting (thank goodness not the girls), hiking, family pets, canning, cooking, building our home inside and out, card games, engagement in family and community events, traveling, shopping, dining, etc. Geraldene was our leading cheerleader of the Halstrom Team! We love and cherish her and we believe she is "GREATEST MOM EVER!"

Our mother learned to value and treasure strong family relationships through her personal experiences of growing up with extended family members and strong family traditions. Our childhood memories were filled by the love and regular presence of cousins, aunts and uncles at Ora and LeRoy Thorne's family home, farm, and cabin in Tibble Fork in American Fork Canyon. Her grandfather, Vivian Nathaniel West, was the forest ranger in American Fork Canyon. He was recognized for his work in opening the pathways to individuals and families to the top of Mount Timpanogos, the Alpine Loop road, and Timpanogos Cave. Mom spent summers with her sisters at the AF Canyon Forest Ranger Station, roller skating in the basement. As Geraldene's children, AF Cayon was a significant part of our childhood value system to respect and appreciate our national parks.

Mom’s personal interests and accomplishments: reading, piano, sewing (needle point, embroidery, and clothes), canning, cooking, gardening, financial management, cards (Bridge and Gin Rummy),loving and forgiving the accidents associated with family pets of ducks, fish, cats, dogs and a pony!Mom cultivated and maintained a clean and orderly home. Within the home she embraced works of art, elegant ceramics, and beautiful furniture while outside she planted trees, flowers, and a garden.Mom created a world of kindness, beauty, and the benefits of hard work. All of this we embrace and remember with gratitude.

In 2026, Geraldene Thorne Halstrom is survived by her children Robert Brent Halstrom, Charlyn Halstrom Shepherd and her three children Mitchel, Brady, Annalie, David Weston (deceased), Carolyn Halstrom Merrill and husband Randall James Merrill.

Prior to 2024:
Geraldene is preceded in death:
Husband: Robert Lee Halstrom (1922 - 2012)
Father: Joseph LeRoy Thorne (1903 - 1985)
Mother: Ora West Thorne (1904 - 2004)
Sister: Marilyn Diane Thorne Brinton (1929 - 2013)
Brother: Dr. Joseph LeRoy Thorne Jr (1926 - 2016)
Grandchild David Weston Shepherd (1996 - 1997)