Gertrude lived in Austria and Germany in her younger years. As a young adult, she experienced wartime in Europe. That is how she met her first husband, Kenneth Spethman. They were married in 1947 and came to live north of Rhame, ND. Two children were born: Larry (1949) and Lana (1953). Accustomed to modern city living with running water and electricity – "What a shock - rural North Dakota! . . . and the closest town - Amidon!" She adapted and overcame the new obstacles in her life. She enjoyed the large family she had now, being an only child, and was eager to ride a horse, milk a cow, and do whatever needed to be done. Kenneth worked for Stubers and Swankes. He died suddenly from a ruptured appendix. She ran the Rhame Cafe where she touched the hearts of many people. She touched them with her cooking and straight forward personality. The Swanke family thought she needed companionship, so they introduced her to Henry Bradac. They were married May 4, 1957. There were four children born to this marriage in five years: Kim (1958), Brian (1959), Scott (1961), and Theresa (1963). They lived in Marmarth until 1964 when they moved to their new home, just NE of Marmarth. She was devoted and a hard worker. She had to be – she had her hands full – not only with children, but with being a rancher's wife. She pasteurized milk, sold cream and eggs, and etc., until she went to work at the Sunset Home in Bowman. She worked there for over 25 years, devoted to caring for many people, until she had a heart attack in 1992. She made many lifelong friends with co-workers and people in Bowman while working there.

Throughout her life, she was a telegraph operator during the war, a superb cook and baker (despite the fact that she didn't learn to cook until she was married because of the rations during the war), an excellent seamstress, a meticulous housekeeper, grandma babysitter, a member of Catholic Daughters, the American Legion Auxiliary (Rhame), St. Mary's Altar Guild, Hughes Township Board, CattleWomen of America, Red Hat Ladies, and the Senior Citizens Center (Marmarth), but most of all, she was a devoted, loving wife, mother and grandmother. Everything she did, she gave 150%. She attended every school event and drove for every function. She loved playing cards, Kismet, marbles, reading, her flowers and yard, gambling, visiting with her friends, and manicures every Friday . She was relentless for what was right and for her family. She always spoke her opinion. She touched the lives of many people. She will not be forgotten, and neither will her accent!

She was preceded in death by her parents, Max and Aloisia Zechner; her two husbands, Kenneth Spethman and Henry Bradac; and three children, Brian, Kim and Lana. She is survived by Larry (Mary) Spethman, grandchildren Virgil Spethman and Raney Spethman (Tara), great-great-grandchildren Kenneth and Raney L. Spethman, Baker, MT; son-in-law: Scott Lustig (Lana), grandson Sean Lustig, Gainesville, VA; children of Kim: Misty Thomes (Dave), Lewiston, MT, and Bryan Bradac, Bend, OR; Scott Bradac (Kerry), Marmarth, ND; Theresa Brewer, Marmarth, ND, grandchildren Kelsey Brewer, Eugene, OR and Steven Brewer, Marmarth, ND; and numerous extended family, friends and neighbors. Special friends during her life include Doris Fischer, Margaret Ferrell, Hazel Zacher and Renee Burk.