Gordon W. Griemsman

Gordon W. Griemsman, age 94, died Wednesday, December 9, 2020, at TenderNest Assisted Living in Billings, Montana. His daughter Julie MaKeeff was at his bedside.

Gordon had been in good health and had recently driven alone from Northern California, where he lived with family, to Roundup with plans to visit family members and old friends. He intended to live in Roundup if he found a comfortable and affordable place. Eleven days after arriving and while staying in a motel, Gordon fell in his room after a dizzy spell and was not found until the next afternoon. He was conscious, able to tell paramedics what happened and transported to Roundup Hospital, then to St. Vincent's Hospital in Billings. As a result of injuries, an infection, and the inability to walk, he was transferred to TenderNest for Hospice Care.

Gordon was born in Roundup, MT. on March 13, 1926 to his parents, Albert, and Angeline (Harms) Griemsman where they raised four boys and four girls. Gordon remained in Montana where he worked on several ranches shoeing and breaking horses. He also worked in the coal mines near Roundup. In his early 20's he moved to Billings, Mt. and worked construction. From 1953 to 1954 Gordon was married to Veleda Maxine McClure and had daughter Julie (Grimes) MaKeeff who lives in Billings with her husband Terry and family. Work took Gordon to Idaho Falls, Idaho where he joined the Teamsters Union and operated heavy earth moving equipment.

While in Idaho Falls Gordon married Eva Catherine (Gray) Cook in 1955 becoming a stepfather to Dean and Beverly Cook. In July 1956 they had Susan, followed by Bonnie born in 1957. In 1958 Gordon moved the family to northern California for union jobs thru the teamsters. He started on the Lewiston Dam near Redding, Ca. then Stoney Creek, followed by the Antelope Dam.

In 1961 Gordon moved the family to Oroville, CA, where he operated front-end loaders and other heavy equipment while helping too build the Oroville Dam until 1968. From 1968 to 1970 Gordon commuted to work at Bullard's Bar Dam followed by three more dam projects.

Laid off during winter months due to weather, Gordon often worked for automobile repair shops doing auto-body work and painting vehicles. In 1974 Gordon was hired to work for a motion picture company in Oroville, CA, filming the movie "The Klansman" with Lee Marvin and Richard Burton. In 1976 the movie "Outlaw Josey Wales" was filmed in Oroville and Gordon was again hired to transport actors to and from the airport and movie set.

Gordon worked on four other dams in California from 1970 to 1979. Gordon and Eva divorced in 1979 and Gordon relocated to Santa Rosa Ca. In 1983 he met and married the love of his life, Goldie Twynman. They danced, enjoyed the Moose Lodge, traveled and were members of a travel trailer group camping around the state. Goldie passed away on March 4, 2004 after 21 years of marriage.

In 2008, while dancing Friday nights at the Moose Lodge in Santa Rosa, Gordon met Dora Fredrickson. Both were 82 years old and loved to dance. Soon they moved in together and in 2011 purchased a home in Dayton Nevada to be closer to one of Dora's daughters. They resided in Nevada until 2015 when they returned to Santa Rosa due to Dora's health. In 2017, when Dora needed special care in an Assisted Living facility, Gordon moved back to Oro-ville full time with his Daughter and Son-In law Mitch and Sue Brown.

After retiring, Gordon had two hobbies. He owned and rode horses from 1980 until 2014 when he was 88 years old. He loved to ride with his dear friend Patty Williams who was like a daughter to him. Gordon joined the Sonoma County Riding Club in March 1992 where Patty was a member. Together they rode in Roundup Montana's Cattle Drive's in 2004, 2005 and 2007.

Never sitting idle, nor having an interest to watch television, Gordon has welded horseshoes to make yard art and functional pieces for the past 30 years.

Gordon was preceded in death by his wife, Goldie; brothers Alvin, Irvin, and George; sisters Clara Zinne, Margaret Enzel, Bernice Green and granddaughter Heidi (Webber) McClellan.

Survivors include one sister age 92, Wanda Winegard of Denver; numerous nieces and nephews, three daughters: His first born, residing in Billings is Julie (Grimes) MaKeeff, husband Terry Makeeff and grandchildren Shane, Joshua, Holly, Foster Son Beau, their spouses and 8 great grandchildren. Second born, from Oroville California, Sue (Griemsman) Webber-Brown, husband Mitch Brown, grandsons Scott, Mathew, their partners, and two great grandchildren. The third daughter, Bonnie (Griemsman) Brent, grandchildren Harlan with his partner and Raness with her spouse, and a great-great granddaughter due to arrive any day in Sacramento.

Gordon never met a stranger, hugged all the ladies, and will be missed by many, especially his great grandchildren. Cremation has taken place, and there will be a celebration of his life in the spring.