Veronica "Khandi" (Gersitz) Tomsheck

Veronica Candace “Khandi” Gersitz Tomsheck was born October 29, 1963, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, to Gerald and Maureen Gersitz. In 1964 the family moved to Deer Lodge to be closer to family. Khandi was raised in Deer Lodge and worked in different places in her earlier life. While living in Butte, MT, with her sister Debi, Khandi saw an ad to become a nanny to two children, as she loved children dearly. Kandi and her sister Debi drove to Sunburst to become a nanny and never left. While in Sunburst, she met her future husband Rex, and they were married on February 28, 1987. They became a family of four. Rex had two children, and so did Khandi. They also became foster parents and adopted two beautiful girls. Their family was complete, with a total of six children.

Khandi worked several jobs – Group homes assisted living, and home health. She was passionate about caring for others, especially the elderly and disabled. She also worked in restaurants and successfully ran a restaurant.

One of Khandi’s deepest passions and greatest memories was camping with family. Every year in July, the family camp trip, hosted in different locations around Montana, brought Khandi much joy. She got to spoil her grandbabies and enjoy being around family. The family also enjoyed the frybread that was Khandi’s specialty.

This love of camping was sparked by her mother, as she took her family camping as often as possible. Khandi’s dream was to become a camp host, and in the summer of 2022, Khandi got her dream job at Dry Wolf campground in the Little Belt Mountain area. Her dream was cut short due to illness.

Khandi was diagnosed with Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) on September 13, 2022, and passed away on September 27, 2022, with family by her side at Peace Hospice in Great Falls, MT.

Khandi leaves behind her loving husband of 35 years, Rex Tomsheck. She is survived by her six children, Jeremy (Amber), Ed (Kris), Cindy (Briar), Sheena (George), Jessica, and Satyn; fourteen grandchildren; two great-granddaughters with a third on the way; her brother, Karl (Heidi); her sisters, Debi (George) and Suzi (Don); many nieces and nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and extended family members.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Maureen Walter; brother, Mark Moody; grandparents, Clyde and Fern McCleary Harvey and Emma Rodgers; and her in-laws, Robert and Ethel Tomsheck.

Funeral services will be held on November 12, 2022, at 2 pm at the Lutheran Church of Sunburst and can also be viewed on the church’s Facebook page. Thank you for all the well wishes and cards the family has received. They are very appreciated during this time.