Geraldine "Geri" Leone (Loberg) Maness , age 86 of Apple Valley died September 12, 2023, at Boden Senior Living in Apple Valley with her family at her side.

Geri was born in 1936 to Viola and Nels Loberg. She was an only child but was never lonely. She grew up in the Grand Rapids and Jacobson areas playing with her many cousins.

She met her future husband, James ("Jim") Ralph Maness, when he bit her big toe at the beach when she was only 8 years old. They married on March 1, 1956, and began their family by welcoming their first child, Robyn, in April 1957. Jeff followed in June 1958. The young family lived in Bloomington, Minnesota. Here, she settled into the routine of the modern '60s family, her tending the house and children, while he directed air traffic at the old Wold-Chamberlin Field. In 1962, Christopher was born. Over the years, many of her younger cousins, or cousin's kids, or sometimes complete strangers that my mom would meet somewhere, and they needed help, would come to stay. There was an extra bedroom in the basement, and you might find Barbie, or Georgie, or Donny, or Betty, or that lady with her seven kids, hanging out for a few weeks. That's how she was, always extending God's mercy and kindness to those in need.

By 1966, air and land traffic had increased enough that they moved their household to a new development in Apple Valley. (People acted like we moved to Owatonna, or something, for how far away they thought we were.) Jim was working at the FAA Center in Farmington. She stayed home raising (and feeding) three of her own kids along with all of Jeff's friends from the neighborhood, until Chris was in middle school. Then she went to work as a manager of the local Kenny's Market. She finally had the social outlet she didn't know she needed. And she loved it.

She lived in Apple Valley until Jim passed in 2009. Then she bought Robyn's one-level detached townhouse and moved to Rosemount. She was able to live there until this year, with Chris helping her. Early this year, it became apparent that she needed more assistance than Chris could provide. And she found a new home at Boden Senior Living in Apple Valley.

Geri is preceded in death by her parents; and husband, James. She is survived by her children, Robyn (Paul) Dietzinger, Jeffery (Cathy) Maness, and Christopher Maness; grandchildren, J.D. Erdmann, Laura Maness, and Jesse Bassett; great-grandchildren, Bhret Hunsaker, Taylor Hunsaker, Allison Erdmann, Madison Erdmann, and Morgan Hunsaker; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation will be held 5-7 PM, Friday, September 15, 2023, at Rowe Funeral Home in Grand Rapids. A funeral service will be held at 11 AM, Saturday, September 16, 2023, at Carmel Lutheran Church, Jacobson, Minnesota with visitation beginning at 10 AM until the time of the service. Geri will be laid to rest at Ball Bluff Cemetery following the funeral service.