Geraldine Verona (Leach) Olson Amble

Geraldine (Leach) Olson Amble, age 89, of Glenwood, MN died Sunday, July 20, 2025 at the Glenwood Village Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23rd at Glenwood Lutheran Church in Glenwood with Rev. Mark Manning officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at 3:00 p.m. at Baldwin Cemetery near Baldwin, WI. Arrangements are with Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home of Glenwood.

Geraldine Verona Leach was born on October 3, 1935, in Menomonie, Wisconsin, to William and Verona (Budd) Leach. The youngest of four children, Geri's early years were spent in Menomonie where she grew up and attended public school. She and her family were members and faithful attenders of the United Methodist Church. After graduating from high school in 1954, she was united in marriage to Gerald Richard Olson in Spring Valley, WI. Their first married years were spent away from Wisconsin, at air force bases where Gerald was serving. Following his honorable discharge, the two made their home in Shakopee, MN and it was there that they started and completed their family, with the birth of their two sons, Rick and David. After a brief move to Coon Rapids, the family moved to Menomonie to be near relatives. They had almost completed their new home construction in nearby Chippewa Falls, when Gerald died from heart issues at the young age of 41. After Gerald’s death, Geri worked as a waitress at various local restaurants in the Chippewa Falls area.  

On December 15, 1979 Geri was united in marriage to Gordon Amble. Earlier that same year, Geraldine and Gordon had been introduced by Gordon’s sister, Shirley, who was a childhood friend of Geri. That introduction resulted in nearly 45 years of love, playful bickering, and the blending of two beautiful families.

Following their marriage, Geri joined Gordon in Glenwood, MN, where Gordon was the Administrator at the Glenwood Nursing Home, later known as Glenwood Retirement Village and now, Glenwood Village Care Center. After Geri’s boys and Gordon’s children were raised, Geri took a position at the local Food and Fuel. She worked there for several years before becoming the activities director at Glenwood Retirement Village.

Geri and Gordon were active members of Glenwood Lutheran Church. She had a reputation among relatives for making the best potato salad and caramel rolls. Geri enjoyed bowling and participated in a competitive ladies’ league. Throughout her lifetime, she enjoyed camping, progressing from tenting to RVing as the years went on. After Gordon’s retirement in 1998, the two enjoyed traveling and wintering in Mercedes, Texas. Early on in her adventures, Geri began collecting bells from each state that she visited. Over time she managed to amass quite an impressive collection which she kept in a corner display cabinet for visitors to admire.

Most important to Geri was her faith and her family. Gordon died in December of last year and, having shared half her life with him, Geri missed him terribly. She passed away peacefully at Glenwood Village Care Center on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at the age of 89.

Geri is lovingly remembered by her sons, Rick (Cheryl) Olson of Montrose, and David (Brenda) Olson of Dassel; step-son, Marcus (Verlee) Amble of Glenwood; step-daughter, Blenda (Scott) Lambutis of Elbow Lake; along with a legacy of 12 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Gerald Olson in 1973, and her second husband, Gordon Amble in 2024; her parents, William and Verona Leach; her sister, Emogene Hickcox; two brothers, Roger and Jule Leach; a stepson, Joseph Amble; a granddaughter, Lauren Margaret Amble; and a grandson, Matthew Olson.

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