Geneva Louise Manicke Webster
Geneva Louise Manicke Webster, 73, died in Kalispell on Dec. 13, 2014, of natural causes, with her family at her side.
Born on Jan. 25, 1941, in Whitefish to A. Milton Manicke and Natalie B. Taylor, she attended Whitefish High School and graduated in 1959. Geneva was prom queen her junior year in high school. After high school, Geneva moved to Seattle and attended the University of Washington. Geneva attended a public dance on First Avenue, close to the Farmer’s Market, in downtown Seattle and the only other young person at the dance was returned U.S. Navy sailor Louis W. Webster. Geneva got a job at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and in less than six months was the office supervisor of 16 employees. Geneva was one of those talented individuals who had beauty and brains; it has been said that she had a great analytical mind and could have been a lawyer.
Louis and Geneva were married at the University of Washington chapel on Sept. 2, 1960. This loving union brought six children. Around 1965, Louis, Geneva and their two children at the time, Loren and Kenneth, moved to Whitefish. Geneva helped her parents manage their candy store across from the Central School, The County Fair. Louis and Geneva’s four other children were all born in Whitefish. Geneva and Louis always said they were rich; rich with many children.
Geneva took instruction and passed to become one of the few women pilots of the Flathead Valley at the time, something of which she was very proud. Geneva also loved to drive and was a professional driver with a commercial driver’s license. For many years, Geneva drove school bus, summer buses for fire fighters, and until two months before her death, was a driver for the Amtrak engineer van. Geneva was the proprietress of the Great Northern Taxi from 2001 to 2006, and employed several drivers, including Louis and herself. Geneva was also a member of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution. Geneva also worked as a dispatcher, as a receptionist for a dental office and at a grocery store in Whitefish.
Geneva was preceded in death by her husband, Louis W. Webster; her parents, A. Milton and Natalie Manicke; a grandson, James L. Webster; and a niece, Libby L. Padden Smith.
Geneva is survived by her children, Loren H. Webster and Julie, and their children Jade and JoDee, Kenneth J. Webster and Lori, and their child Myra, Katie J. King and Aric, and children Joshua and Jesse, Milton W. Webster and Gail, Karen Webster Copeland and Jason, and their children Shayla, Kai and Devin, Peggy C. Hertlein and Joshua, and their children, Natalie and Loic; as well as Geneva’s siblings, Harold V. Manicke and Elaine, Juanita J. Padden and John, and Ramona Christine Lewis and Steven.
Geneva was a wonderful mother who unceasingly prayed for all of her loved ones. Geneva was happy for any success of her children, be it big or small.
“We all love and miss our mother, who is reunited with Louis in their mansion in heaven.”
A service will be held at 11 a.m. on Jan. 3, at Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish. There will be a reception afterwards at the VFW in Whitefish and all are welcome to attend both.