A beautiful spirit, devoted woman of faith, dedicated wife, mother, grandma, great-grandma, sister and friend, our beloved Germaine (Geri) Eileen Hickson Wiese, passed away peacefully surrounded with love by her family on Sept. 27, 2023, in Boise, Idaho at age 84 after battling multiple hemorrhagic strokes.
Geri was born in Fergus Falls, Minnesota to Gorgen and Evelyn Aandahl. She grew up in Ferndale, Washington alongside three siblings: Marlene (Richard) Chilson, Cheryl (Jim) Chilson and Howard (Michelle) Aandahl. At the young age of 15 she ventured off to Kansas City, Missouri to attend Kansas City Christian Bible School where she met many lifelong friends and her first spouse, the late Raymond (Dean) Hickson.
After their son Kevin was born, they moved to the great state of Washington in 1964 and made their home in Tenino, Washington, where Geri was a happy homemaker and eventually added a daughter, Sonja, to their family. They then moved to Olympia, where Geri was a bookkeeper for many years.
She was very involved in her church, sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, hosted many events alongside her three best friends Marge, Tootie and Karen, and was even the church secretary for a short period of time.
In 1978, the family moved to Centralia, Washington, where she resided until 2011. Geri worked for Security State Bank for 15 years at the Chehalis branch and always said it was her favorite job. She met numerous people in the community, many of whom have stayed in contact until her passing.
Geri was well-loved by her village of friends and family that spanned the world. Geri is best described as a classy lady who always had a big smile on her face, an infectious laugh, an adventuresome spirit, a witty sense of humor, an open door to her beautiful home where she was the “hostess with the mostest,” and a listening ear for anyone who needed it. Everyone felt like her best friend.
Geri is survived by her beloved husband Doug Wiese, of Nampa, Idaho; son Kevin Hickson, of Snohomish, Washington and the Philippines; daughter Sonja (Kevin) Mitchell, of Rathdrum, Idaho; stepchildren who she embraced as her own, Lincoln (Miracle) Wiese, of Tillamook, Oregon; Lanola Wiese, of Arkansas; Dianna Wiese, Lexington, Oklahoma; and Lyne (John) Farness, of Vancouver, Washington.
She is also survived by grandchildren Jessica (John) Godfrey, Austin Rowley, Rachel (Jarek) Hitchcock, Grant Rowley, Reese Rowley and AnaMarie Rowley; great-grandchildren Elizabeth Godfrey, Olivia Godfrey, Alec Hitchcock and Jameson Hitchcock; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.
And her most cherished cat, Gracie.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Gorgen and Evelyn Aandahl; sister Marlene Chilson; daughter-in-law Terri Hickson; and great-grandson Noah Godfrey.
A celebration of life will be held at the Centralia Church of the Nazarene, 1119 W First St. Centralia, Washington, on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 2:00 p.m. The family extends an invitation to the community to come share in Geri’s beautiful life and Homecoming.
