Geraldine “Jerry” McConkey, age 93, of Maple Lake, formerly of Grove City and Spring Lake, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 21, 2023, at the Annandale Care Center. A celebration of life will be held 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Annandale City Park Pavilion lower level. Geraldine Rusile McConkey was born April 20, 1930, to Alpha and Russell McConkey in Fort Scott, Kansas. She enjoyed her young life by traveling to state parks and fishing trips with her parents and Grandma Mac. She received her education in the Topeka, Kansas systems. Knowing she wanted to be a teacher, she attended Kansas State University and McPherson State College, where she received her elementary and kindergarten teaching licenses. She started teaching in the Topeka schools. Her first “room mother” was Mrs. Brown of Brown vs. Board of Education, which was the groundbreaking segregation case. In college she met and married Jerry McConkey. They were joined in marriage on June 6, 1956. They had four children and moved their family to Spring Lake, Minnesota where they both taught at the elementary school. Jerry continued in the education field by teaching kindergarten and as a reading specialist. During the summer, they ran the family Bowstring Resort and the friendships they made continued long after they sold the resort. After retirement, she ran a craft store and small apartments. After moving to Grove City, and then to Maple Lake, Geraldine continued to enjoy reading, crafts, watching the Vikings and Twins, gardening and her dog, Jelly Bean. Jerry leaves behind her children, Rusty (Marilyn) of Hibbing, Scott of Detroit Lakes, Heidi (Doug) Kelm of Maple Lake and Tracy (Melody) of Cokato. She is also survived by her 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.