1960
Rebecca
2025
Rebecca West
May 25, 1960 — February 9, 2025
Dr. Rebecca West, Fargo, passed away on Sunday, February 9, 2025 at Sanford Broadway Hospital from complications of a recent illness.
Dr. Rebecca West was born to Don and Eileen Geske on May 25, 1960 at St. Luke's Hospital in Fargo, joining her siblings at home. At age two her family moved from their farm home in Cass County to a farm in Barnes County near Wimbledon, North Dakota. There she attended school until the family again moved their farming operation to LaMoure County, where she graduated from high school in Verona, North Dakota in 1978. Always interested in "book learning," Rebecca continued her education over a span of many years, juggling marriage, raising her son, and working outside of the home as she achieved her final goals in education with a Doctor of Philosophy in Rhetoric, Writing, and Culture from NDSU in August of 2017.
Besides her work in the NDSU English department, Rebecca worked part-time for NDSU Extension for many years with Julie Garden-Robinson and others in the nutrition, food safety, and health area. Rebecca was a highly valued and engaged member of the team, where she helped write materials and completed literature reviews and research in the areas of food safety, beans and other pulse foods, garlic, and many other topics. She created agendas and notes for a 12-state food safety team and the members were deeply saddened to hear of her passing. She was justly described as "incredible." Rebecca's attention to detail and thoroughness resulted in journal articles and Extension outreach materials that have been used by thousands of people.
Rebecca loved books, reading, maps, birds, squirrels, flowers, parks, libraries, cats, music, and Middle Eastern Dance. She trained in Taekwondo martial arts with Grand Master Jim Grimestad at Grand Master Yun's school in downtown Fargo in the Eighties and received her first degree black belt certification.
She was a perfectionist in cooking and took pride in regularly cooking recipes from all cultures of the world. Being outside with nature was another favorite of hers to name a few. Rebecca studied piano throughout her younger years, having enjoyed playing and performing pieces by JS Bach and one of her all time favorites, Edvard Grieg's Wedding Day at Troldhaugen. Later, she also enjoyed the Romantics, playing many pieces by Beethoven and Chopin. Her piano has been donated to the Spirit Room in Downtown Fargo for many others to enjoy.
Rebecca loved her only son with a "Mother Lion" like love. Max was the love of her life. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends as well as her colleagues at NDSU.
Dr. Rebecca West is survived by her son Max Goodwin; parents Don and Eileen Geske; her siblings, Tim, Ann, and Miriam, and her nieces and nephews, Amanda, Norah, Moriah, Amos, Erica, and Andrew.
No services are planned at this time.
Dr. Rebecca West was born to Don and Eileen Geske on May 25, 1960 at St. Luke's Hospital in Fargo, joining her siblings at home. At age two her family moved from their farm home in Cass County to a farm in Barnes County near Wimbledon, North Dakota. There she attended school until the family again moved their farming operation to LaMoure County, where she graduated from high school in Verona, North Dakota in 1978. Always interested in "book learning," Rebecca continued her education over a span of many years, juggling marriage, raising her son, and working outside of the home as she achieved her final goals in education with a Doctor of Philosophy in Rhetoric, Writing, and Culture from NDSU in August of 2017.
Besides her work in the NDSU English department, Rebecca worked part-time for NDSU Extension for many years with Julie Garden-Robinson and others in the nutrition, food safety, and health area. Rebecca was a highly valued and engaged member of the team, where she helped write materials and completed literature reviews and research in the areas of food safety, beans and other pulse foods, garlic, and many other topics. She created agendas and notes for a 12-state food safety team and the members were deeply saddened to hear of her passing. She was justly described as "incredible." Rebecca's attention to detail and thoroughness resulted in journal articles and Extension outreach materials that have been used by thousands of people.
Rebecca loved books, reading, maps, birds, squirrels, flowers, parks, libraries, cats, music, and Middle Eastern Dance. She trained in Taekwondo martial arts with Grand Master Jim Grimestad at Grand Master Yun's school in downtown Fargo in the Eighties and received her first degree black belt certification.
She was a perfectionist in cooking and took pride in regularly cooking recipes from all cultures of the world. Being outside with nature was another favorite of hers to name a few. Rebecca studied piano throughout her younger years, having enjoyed playing and performing pieces by JS Bach and one of her all time favorites, Edvard Grieg's Wedding Day at Troldhaugen. Later, she also enjoyed the Romantics, playing many pieces by Beethoven and Chopin. Her piano has been donated to the Spirit Room in Downtown Fargo for many others to enjoy.
Rebecca loved her only son with a "Mother Lion" like love. Max was the love of her life. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends as well as her colleagues at NDSU.
Dr. Rebecca West is survived by her son Max Goodwin; parents Don and Eileen Geske; her siblings, Tim, Ann, and Miriam, and her nieces and nephews, Amanda, Norah, Moriah, Amos, Erica, and Andrew.
No services are planned at this time.
To send flowers to the family in memory of Rebecca West, please visit our flower store.
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