Mansch: Many in Great Falls mourn passing of Larry Geske

Ron Schlereth remembers the dancing lessons and pinochle parties.

Jim Keough recalls the dirty work clothes and selfless attitude.

And Cheryl Johnson thinks of the flowers that her former boss, Larry Geske, never forgot.

"Every Secretary's Day, even though I hadn't been his secretary for years, he sent me roses," Johnson said Friday when discussing the sudden death of Geske, a prominent Great Falls businessman and sports-minded civic leader. "He was so good to me."

Geske, who was 76, died Thursday in Phoenix. The retired former CEO of Energy West and president of the Great Falls Baseball Club had been ill for a while, and suffered an apparent heart attack after a doctor's visit Thursday.

Geske's wife Rosa, whom he married a few years ago, called Schlereth with the news.

"I worked for him for 30-some years," said Schlereth, the former operations manager at Energy West. "He was my boss, but Larry and I were also good friends. We had dancing lessons with our wives (Geske's first wife, Sandy, died in 2008) and we'd go out quite a bit. On New Year's Eve we'd play pinochle."

Schlereth paused for a moment.

"Larry," he said, "was the best."

Geske grew up on a Kansas farm and graduated from Kansas State with an engineering degree. He and Sandy, who was also from rural Kansas, came to Great Falls in 1975. The move to this city was good for the Geskes.

And vice versa.

Geske's career at Great Falls Gas/Energy West was highly successful. And he worked just as hard away from the office. He was chairman of development for the K-M Boy Scout Ranch in Montana, and president of the United Way faction in Great Falls. He was board member and chairman of Vision 2000 here, and also served as president of the Great Falls Chamber of Commerce.

A lifelong fan of America's National Pastime, he served as president of the Great Falls Baseball Club from 1994-2004.

"He was as genuine as you could get," said Keough, who worked for Geske as general manager of ballclub for 13 years. "I can still picture him out there with our Booster Club during work projects on Saturdays. He'd be getting dirty, pulling weeds and painting."

Geske achieved much in his career, but it was difficult to tell during a conversation at the ballpark. One night he might be entertaining Tommy Lasorda and other dignitaries of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

And the next he might be in the parking lot at the stadium directing traffic.

"He never got one dime from that baseball club," Keough said.

But what a million-dollar smile he had. For sure, Larry Geske was a cheerful individual who cared for his community.

And it showed.

"I can't say enough good things about him," said Johnson. "My son (Beau) played baseball from Little League through Legion and Larry and Sandy were such supporters. Everybody looked up to Larry.

"It's just so very sad."

Sheila Rice, the director of NeighborWorks in Great Falls, previously served as an executive at Energy West. Rice said Geske made Great Falls a much better place for both sports and business.

"His vision resulted in the Business Improvement District," she said in a text message. "The (Centene Stadium) ballpark improvements, the renovation on the Great Northern Depot and so much more.

"He believed in people," Rice added, "and in Great Falls."

On top of his 10 years as president, Geske was a member of professional baseball team's board of directors here for many years. Those were the seasons when the team was affiliated with the Dodgers.

"I remember when the O'Malley family (owners of the Dodgers) came up for a visit and spent time at Larry's place," Keough said. "Of course Sandy was such a baseball fan, too. I know all those professional baseball people really liked them."

Keough said several weeks ago he was able to visit with Minnesota Twins bench coach Joe Vavra, the former manager of the Great Falls Dodgers.

"The first guy he asked about was Larry," Keough said.

Bill Harp, who knew Geske for 40 years, said he cannot believe the news.

"They didn't make them any better than Larry Geske," Harp said. "He was a true gentleman."

Harp was a member of the board of directors for the Great Falls Baseball Club years ago, a group that also included Howard Gaare, Joe Forzley, Gary French, Logan Hurlbert and Geske.

"Larry and I, we stayed in touch," Harp said.

He noted a recent story in the Tribune that championed Rice's career and quoted her describing Geske as a fine boss and mentor. Harp said that reflected the type of man he was.

"If Larry Geske had an enemy," said Harp, "I don't know who it could possibly be. Everybody liked him. He was a great guy."

Scott Mansch is Tribune Sports Columnist and has covered prep, college and pro sports in Great Falls for three decades. He can be reached at 791-1481 or smansch@greatfallstribune.com. Follow him on Twitter @GFTrib_SMansch