Geraldine Kofoed

Geraldine Merrill Kofoed, age 89, of Albuquerque NM, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. She was born to Austin and Alice (Perry) Merrill in Preston, Idaho. She had 8 brothers and sisters.

Geraldine grew up in the small town of Preston, Idaho where she helped her mother garden and can fruits and vegetables. She and her brothers and sisters had a carefree and loving childhood; attending church, fishing, shooting, and putting on shows to entertain the neighborhood kids.

After she graduated high school, she lived in Salt Lake City, Utah working as a bookkeeper. She married Marlin Kofoed whom she had dated in high school. They moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho and later to Arco, Idaho where they raised their family and created many friendships. She dedicated her time and love to home and family. She enjoyed gardening and providing food for the family. She had an eye for design making beautiful flower gardens, decorating the house, and making clothes for the family. She was a cub scout leader for several years, caring for them like her own.  When friends, family and visitors came to the house, she always found a way to make them feel welcome and at home.  

They retired to Pocatello where her and Marlin enjoyed golf, making crafts with friends, and providing community service. To be close to children and grandchildren they moved to New Mexico taking advantage of the outdoors and rich culture.  After Marlin passed in 2007, she lived with her daughters and traveled in the States, Mexico, Canada, and lived in Europe for a short time with her family. In her later years, even as her own health was failing, she cared for those around her.

Left to cherish her memory are her two daughters, Tina Sweet (Martin), Jennifer Anderson (Mike), and her son Chris Kofoed (Nicole), 13 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers and sisters, husband of 54 years Marlin Kofoed, daughter Kim Turner, son John Kofoed and grandsons Russell Sweet and Brent Sweet.

A memorial service will be held Friday, May 6 at 12:30 pm at Rivera Family Funerals in Santa Fe, NM. Following the service at 2:15 pm she will be dedicated and join Marlin at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. Please join us for a dinner reception afterwards, location to be announced at a later time.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Alzheimer’s Association in memory of Geraldine Kofoed at https://www.alz.org.