Georgene grew up on the family farm near Platteville. After graduating from Platteville High School in 1943, she took an office job with the Boy Scouts of America in Greeley. After working there a few months, she moved to California to live with relatives and work at the shipyards in Sausalito and for a bakery in Hermosa Beach. In 1944, she moved back to Colorado and worked for General Motors in Denver until 1947. She and Herbert met at a dance at Kiowa Grange in Prospect Valley in 1946. After their marriage at Community United Methodist Church in Keenesburg on September 14, 1947, they took a month-long honeymoon in California before moving to the Abbott family farm southeast of Keenesburg. In January of 1949, they moved the home where Georgene lived the rest of her life. Their first child, Sandra Joyce was born March 1, 1949; within three and a half years sons Rex Elliott (March 19, 1951) and Douglas Kern (November 7, 1952) joined the family. While Herbert farmed, Georgene did the bookkeeping, took meals to the harvest field for 50 years, keeping everyone in line. Georgene retired from her bookkeeping position with Abbott Farms, Inc. in December 2017. She had been a member of the U&I Club and the Harmony Club since the 1940s; her “Denver Club”, which is comprised of her cousins and sister Sevella; and she has been a member of the Community United Methodist Church since 1947. Georgene baked goodies for the bake sales and helped with the soup suppers at CUMC, in addition to teaching Vacation Bible School at the Community United Methodist Church.

Georgene and Herbert traveled extensively until Herbert’s death in September of 1982. She continued to travel after that and has visited all 50 states; the Bahamas; Mexico; Jamaica; the Caribbean; all provinces in Canada; and Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Holland, France and England.

When Georgene was younger, she played the accordion. At times, she could be persuaded to play a few tunes, one of her favorites being “Blueberry Hill”. She also enjoyed reading, Pinochle, Canasta, crossword and word puzzles, and dancing. She has kept a diary since she was 18 years old. After breakfast every morning, she would play a few hands of Solitaire. Georgene loved any social gathering and was the secretary of the Bernd family reunions for 50+ years, finally “retiring” from that position in 2018. She said the only thing better than being a grandparent was being a great-grandparent. Georgene loved going to their sporting activities, school functions, and rodeos.
Survivors included: daughter Sandra Galey of Denver; son Douglas (Johanna) Abbott of Keenesburg; daughter-in-law Ann Abbott of Torrington, WY; her sister Sevella Geilert of Lakewood; grandchildren Tina (Mike) Christinck, Wheatland, WY; Jennifer Baessler, Brighton; Clint Abbott, Hudson; and Tyler (Krista Pierce) Abbott, Keenesburg; and step-grandsons Justin (Melissa Southworth) Mildenberger and Jordan (Morgann Daniels) Mildenberger, all of Keenesburg; and Jerrad (Dana) Mildenberger of Wiggins; great-grandchildren Riley Abbott, Watertown, SD; Braden Abbott, Hudson, CO; Logan and Alyssa Baessler, Brighton, CO; Levi and Lane Christinck, Wheatland, WY; and step-great-grandchildren: Joshua (Ashley) Baessler, Longmont, CO; Rhett Mildenberger, Gillette, WY; Marley and Memphis Mildenberger, Wiggins, CO; and Blane Mildenberger, Aidan Scollard and Rachael Daniels, Keenesburg, CO; her “bonus” grandchildren Dana (Drew) Lentz, Castle Rock, CO; and Shawn Baessler, Thornton, CO; her best friend Helen I. Sirios, Keenesburg;.and godson and nephew Gean (Donna) Abbott. Her faithful companion Dolly will greatly miss her. Preceding were son Rex; in-laws Allen and Opal Abbott; sister Jacquelyn Schick.