Gela Rae Holland Koehler

A mother’s love is the ultimate sacrifice, for she gives everything she has for her children.

Longtime Libby resident Gela Rae Holland Koehler passed away May 26, 2024, in Libby, on her 88th birthday. She was born May 26, 1936, in Fallon, Nevada, to Louis Holland and Mora Paramore. Her parents divorced when she was three and she was raised by her grandmother Charlotte Call Dimoff. 

She attended elementary school in Hamilton and junior high school in Great Falls. She moved to Libby in 1951 and graduated from Libby High School in 1954.

Gela entered the U.S. Navy in June 1954 and spent 18 months in Bainbridge, Maryland. She married her high school sweetheart, Ross Koehler, on April 1, 1955. They were apart until November 1955 when she completed her service with the Navy. Gela was awarded the American Spirit Medal at the conclusion of Boot Camp, the highest award you can receive. She was also a cheerleader for the Navy.

She and Ross raised their family of six children in Libby. Her greatest joys in this life were being a wife, a mother and a teacher. Gela was a remedial reading aid for 18 years at Asa Wood Elementary, taught community college quilting classes for seven years, taught religious early morning seminary for 13 years and spent countless years teaching in the Libby Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Gela served on the Libby School Board, was a member of the Election Board for more than 30 years, and was a judge for the Lincoln County Fair for decades. She and Ross served as missionaries for their Church in Omaha, Nebraska, from 1994-1996.

She was one of the original members of the LDS Church’s Libby Branch that was organized in 1952. She remembers sweeping cigarette butts at the Moose Hall early on Sunday mornings with Carol Spencer so church could be held. Since then, she has seen the branch become the ward it is today.

Gela was known for her kindness, generosity, and making all feel welcome in her home. As an only child, she never wanted anyone to feel left out. Holidays at the Koehler home were often filled with guests who had nowhere else to go.

Her hobbies included reading, quilting, making gifts to give away, genealogy and collecting.

Gela is survived by her children Clint Koehler, Mesquite, Nevada; Charlotte Baker (David), Libby, Montana; Melinda Colton (Kim), Draper, Utah: Bill Koehler (Talia), Herriman, Utah; and Etta Doubek, Libby, Montana; her 11 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her son, Daniel; her daughter-in-law, Tami Koehler; and her granddaughter, Spring Koehler.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 31, at the Libby Ward Chapel, 2056 U.S. Highway 2. All who were touched by her life are welcome to attend. 

A viewing will be held from 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. on the day of the funeral at Libby Ward. Interment will follow at the Libby Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the Libby Ward after internment.
Arrangements are under the care of the Schnackenberg Funeral Home. Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.schnackenberg.com.