Mertie Ann Gardner

MERTIE ANNE (DYKSTRA) GARDNER was born May 13, 1937, halfway between Hope, Idaho and Paradise, Montana to Henry and Delta Mae (Parrish) Dykstra. She was the tenth child in a family of fourteen. The family lived in the 'Stoner Place' in Thompson Falls when Mertie began elementary school. Sometime before fifth grade, the family moved south of Thompson Falls to the 'home place' near the Clark Fork and Thompson Rivers. The family raised sheep and had a large garden. Highlights for Mertie each summer were the last day of school in the spring, the day the family sheared the sheep, huckleberry picking and the first day of school in the fall. The most important time of the summer was the annual church convention, when the family loaded up and traveled to a farm near Ronan, Montana. Mertie professed her love for and belief in God at a young age and continued to serve Him throughout her life. Singing or listening to the hymns brought her comfort and peace, until the end of her life here on this earth. Mertie enjoyed school and excelled in her studies. She graduated from Thompson Falls High School on May 23, 1955. She was the Salutatorian of her class.

On May 23, 1955, she married her husband, Paul Melvin Gerald Gardner, in a double wedding with her brother, Martin and his wife, Marie. The wedding took place in Missoula, Montana. The couple quickly returned to Thompson Falls where Mertie delivered her graduation speech that evening. The couple settled in Kalispell for three years. In the fall of 1958, Paul, Mertie, their first son, Gerald and baby, Arlene, moved to the Rexford area where they lived in a few different locations. In August 1960, just after the birth of Ruth, the couple purchased their first home in ‘Old Rexford’ where Dave, Neil and ElaRae joined the family. In 1968, Paul and Mertie purchased Rexford Service, a small gas station and convenience store with an apartment in the rear of the building. They operated and lived in this location until November 1971, when the family and business moved to ‘New Rexford.’ This location became the family home until Paul's death in February 2019. In early spring 2019, Mertie moved to Fort Benton, Montana to be close to her daughter, Ruth. With the construction of the Libby Dam beginning in 1966, the course of life was altered for Mertie and her family. A different focus for income found Paul logging cottonwood, loading it on railway cars and shipping it to the pulp and plywood mills. Since the entire Kootenai River basin had to be cleared to allow the formation of the Koocanusa Reservoir, Paul contracted to clear old homesteads. Through this process he acquired a farmhouse located 23 miles south of 'Old Rexford’ and moved it to 'New Rexford.' This was no small task, as the house was wider than the highway. It took him most of a year, drilling, blasting, and clearing to widen the highway. Special permission was required to use a temporary construction bridge for crossing the Kootenai River. As ‘New Rexford’ was not developed yet, the farmhouse was stored for several years before moving it to the ‘New Rexford.’ In ‘New Rexford,’ Mertie operated Rexford Service until 1976. In 1978, she began working part-time for the US Postal Service. Sometime in the 90s Mertie and Paul opened the Rexford Reunion Center and managed it for a number of years.In addition to raising children, Mertie volunteered at school as a room mother, fundraising chair, party and assembly organizer and chauffeur. She also served for several years as a member of the town council. When all their children left home, Mertie and Paul opened their hearts and home to foster children for several years. One foster child stole their hearts; Elsie became a legal part of their family on February 26, 2007. After 88 years of a life full of love, challenges, and amazing opportunities, Mertie slipped into eternity in the early morning hours of Monday, January 19, 2026, with her daughter, Ruth by her side. She had fallen on December 13, 2026, and shattered her femur. Following surgery and a week of recovery in the Benefis Hospital in Great Falls, she was transported to the Missouri River Medical Center in Fort Benton. She received excellent care and therapy, however her health continued to decline. Mertie is preceded in death by her husband, Paul; daughter, Ruby Ann; daughter-in-law, Martha Gardner; parents; brothers, Claude (Ann), Dirk, David (Erlice), and Allen; sisters, Gladys, Clara, Julia (Marvin) Hamilton, June (William) Mercer, Delta (Ken) Smith, Cathy (Armand) Sandon; and sister-in-law, Joan Dykstra. She is survived by sons, Gerald (Wendy), David, and Neil (Tabatha); daughters, Arlene, Ruth (Darrel) Benjamin, ElaRae (Tony) Wilkes, and Elsie; brothers, Martin (Marie), Ted Sr., and Lee (Gracie); sister-in-laws, Nettie Dykstra, and Karen Dykstra; 19 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.

Arrangements: Great Falls, Friday, A viewing will be held on January 30, 2026, between 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., with service following at 10:30 a.m. at the Scottish Rite (1304 13th Street South), Lunch will follow with sandwiches and drinks provided. Side dishes and desserts are welcome.

Eureka, Saturday, January 31, 2026, graveside service will be at 12 Noon at Tobacco Valley/Eureka Cemetery - Hwy 37 North, 4 miles past Eureka, Potluck lunch to follow at the Timbers Event Center 101 Julian Drive, Eureka