With heavy hearts, we bid farewell to Georgie Ann Curtiss Ganther—our beloved Georgia—who peacefully departed this earthly realm on Monday, May 5, 2025, in Great Falls, Montana. Born on December 10, 1945, at Columbus Hospital in Great Falls, she was a radiant light in our lives, the daughter of George Ernest Curtiss and Nancy Ellen Price Curtiss, and a loving presence among her twelve siblings.
Georgia’s life was a beautiful testament to resilience, unwavering passion, and boundless love. Her journey began and ended in Great Falls; a city forever etched in her heart. Demonstrating her commitment to lifelong learning and her passion for the culinary arts, she attended Great Falls High School and later proudly graduated from the culinary program at Great Falls Community College, further honing the skills she would share with so many.
Georgia’s life journey included chapters of love and connection, each leaving its own imprint. She first married Luther Robert Biggs Jr. on May 3, 1965, in Great Falls—a brief but meaningful union that began with a chance meeting arranged by a distant cousin, Lee Price, in Rexburg, Idaho. Later, in 1968, she married William Kjellistrom, a relationship that held the promise of happiness, though their paths ultimately diverged after a year. Through these experiences, Georgia’s heart remained open, resilient, and ever hopeful for the love and companionship she ultimately found.
A particularly significant chapter in Georgia’s life began with her marriage to William Halcomb Ganther Jr. on November 20, 1982, in Great Falls. Their connection sparked from a chance meeting during her graveyard shift at Sambo’s, where she was working as a cook in Great Falls, Montana, and blossomed into a profound partnership that lasted until William’s passing in 2014.
Georgia’s journey took her to various places, each leaving its own mark. She called Cheney, Washington, home for a time, where she was a part-owner and the driving force behind the restaurant at “The Locomotion,” a local nightclub. Her path also led her to South Carolina, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Boise, Idaho. Yet, Great Falls was forever her sanctuary, the place where her spirit found peace and belonging, ultimately welcoming her home.
Her life was a rich tapestry woven with diverse passions and talents. She poured her heart into the culinary arts, creating comforting and delicious meals at local favorites such as JB’s, Yellowstone Truck Stop, Lippy’s Kitchen, and Perkins. Her creative spirit blossomed during her two years as a florist at Electric City Conservatory, where she brought beauty and life to every arrangement. Her compassionate nature shone brightly during her years as a C.N.A. and in-home care aide from 2003 to 2006, where she offered care and kindness with unwavering tenderness. She also dedicated herself as a teacher’s aide at North Middle School, nurturing young minds and hearts with patience and support.
Beyond her professional life, Georgia was a gifted artist, expressing her inner world through drawing, painting, and countless creative projects. Georgia’s passion for genealogy was a deep and abiding love. She dedicated countless hours at the Family History Library at the Great Falls West Stake Center, meticulously piecing together her family’s story with unwavering dedication. Her innate green thumb transformed ordinary spaces into vibrant gardens, a testament to her nurturing spirit and love for the natural world. Her collection of rocks and flowers reflected her appreciation for the earth’s intricate beauty. Her culinary creations were made with an open heart and intuitive touch, each dish a labor of love that nourished both body and soul. Though her recipes were often unwritten, they live on in the memories of those who savored her delicious meals. Her artistic talents were a visual expression of her vibrant inner world, bringing color and beauty to all she touched.
Deeply committed to her faith, Georgia embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ and became an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the 1970s, living a life marked by hard work, integrity, and unwavering devotion. Her service encompassed various callings within the church, from working in the library to caring for the littlest ones in the nursery and sharing her love of the Gospel as a teacher in both junior and senior primary. She was also a master at transforming scraps into treasures, a symbol of her resourcefulness and unwavering hope, and was always willing to lend her talents and time to Relief Society projects.
She leaves behind a legacy of love that will continue to flourish in the hearts of her son and daughter-in-law, Robert Ernest Biggs and Lori Brix Biggs of Boise, ID; her daughter, Karol Ann Marie Ganther of Great Falls; her cherished sisters, Carol Lee Curtiss of Great Falls and Nancy Marie Curtiss Gill of Philo, OH; and her brothers, John Junior Trainor, Harry Horatio Curtiss, and Norman Leroy Curtiss, all of Great Falls. Her three beloved grandchildren—Kassondra Rose Biggs Yergenson and Kohl Robert Biggs, both of Boise, ID, and Zephriah Morgan Ganther of Great Falls—are living testaments to her enduring spirit and love.
Georgia was preceded in death by her parents George Ernest Curtiss and Nancy Ellen Price Curtiss; her husband, William Halcomb Ganther Jr.; her sisters, Ida Bellie Serdahl, Delore Irene Haxton, Mary Ellen Marler, and Patsy Irene Kelleher; and her brothers, Patrick William Trainor and Jess Willard Curtiss. Though their absence created a void, their memories remained a cherished part of her life.
A celebration of Georgia’s extraordinary life will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 1:00 PM, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 1015 15th Ave So, Great Falls, MT. Though Georgia has embarked on her next journey, the warmth of her spirit, her creative soul, and her loving heart will forever remain in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her. Her legacy will continue to bloom in every flower she nurtured, every recipe shared, and every life she touched with her genuine kindness and unwavering love.
Author: Staff
Our Staff account is used to publish submitted content. If you have content that was published under this account, and wish to have your name as author, please contact us at (406) 952-3021
