Gina A. Kessel

Gina A. Jackson-Kessel, 56, died Saturday May 11th at home surrounded by family. 

 Gina was born in Glasgow, Montana on November 17th, 1967 to Floyd Hartry and Elizabeth Grandchamp-Hartry. However, her mother later remarried to Leslie Jackson who ultimately adopted and raised Gina as his own. She was raised and educated in Montana and later attended college at United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, ND.  In August of 1994, she met Jerry Kessel and they finally married on October 13, 2000. Due to her husband’s job she became an amazing stay-at-home mother to their four beautiful children. It wasn’t until her children were older that she started working again and eventually ran her own business for a few years before falling ill. 

 Gina was as straight forward as they come and was always her most authentic self regardless of who was around. She was a driven woman who believed in honesty and hard work to get you through life. To say she loved deeply would be an understatement. The fierceness in which she loved was felt by all who crossed paths with her. She didn’t judge a soul and became “ma” to many. She had this unwavering ability to make anyone feel seen, heard and valued and because of this she was always surrounded by good company. However, I think her favorite humans to be around were her grand babies, both blood and not. The values Gina has instilled in her family will live on forever and her spirit and zest for life will never be forgotten. 

 Gina was able to have a celebration of life a week before her passing surrounded by a full house of all who loved her and upon her request there will be no further funeral or services. She’d want her family and friends to smile through her absence and follow her one simple rule: “if you can’t bring me flowers when I’m alive, don’t bring me them when I’m dead.”

 She is survived by her husband Jerry; children Joe (Brie) Jackson, Elizabeth (Curt Miller) Kessel and Mitchell Kessel; three grandchildren, Stetson Kessel, Kyrie and Dax Jackson; sister, Leslie Jackson-Heinze and many nieces and nephews, including Kendra Jackson and her children, Haidyn, Weston and Autumn, a niece who was close to Gina.

 She was preceded in death by her parents, Elizabeth Jean Jackson and Leslie Jackson; birth father, Floyd Hartry; son, Dustin Kessel and brother Joe Hartry.