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Gertrud Wilhelmine (Böger) Bly, 84, of Littleton, Colorado, passed away on April 4, 2023. She was born Feb. 28, 1939, in Cuxhaven, Germany. She was the sixth of nine children, and the first daughter born to Gustav Adolf and Katharina Elisabeth Böger.
Gertrud attended school in Northern Germany, receiving her nursing degree in Rothenburg, Germany. She traveled as a nurse, circumnavigating the world and caring for others. It was through nursing that she met James when he was stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army. They married in April 1969 and moved to the U.S. They lived in many states — South Dakota, Colorado, Missouri, Minnesota and Pennsylvania — before settling down in Powell, Wyoming. She was a doting and loving mother to Lars, born in South Dakota, and Aree, born in Colorado.
Her vibrant blue eyes were the first thing that drew people to her, and her golden heart held them close. She lived her life with a love of music, travel, dips in cold waters and everyone around her. She never met a stranger. Any tourist speaking German in a restroom in Yellowstone would end up on her extensive Christmas card list. Her Christmas cards would mark the official beginning of the season for many as the first card received.
Gertrud and family made Powell their home in 1983 and were welcomed with open arms. They made many friends through Northwest College, Hope Lutheran Church and simply spending time around town.
Gertrud’s greatest joy in the last decades was being Oma to three granddaughters — Delia, Gabi and Lara Leonard. She was extremely proud of each of them and loved to spoil them when little with marshmallows for lunch. As they grew, she enjoyed spending time with them as they shared their latest celebrations in the swimming pool and school.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband James, son Lars, and brothers Hajo, Reinhard and Klaus Böger. She is survived by her daughter Aree Bly (Tom Leonard) (Littleton, Colorado), her brothers Dierk and Gerd Böger (Fischerhude, Germany), and sisters Inge (Bremen, Germany), Anke and Hille Böger (Hamburg, Germany).
A celebration of Gertrud’s life will be held on Friday, April 28 at 1 p.m. at Drinkwine Family Mortuary, 999 W Littleton Blvd, Littleton, Colorado.
Burial and graveside service will be held on Monday, May 1, at 3:30 p.m. at Crown Hill Cemetery, 678 Lane 9, Powell, Wyoming, with a reception following at Hope Lutheran Church in Powell.
Family and friends are invited to join us at either celebration to remember Gertrud.
Memorial donations may be made in memory of Gertrud to the Colorado Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org/co) or the charity of your choice.
