Amber Giese Pierson, 43, passed away peacefully on September 7, 2016 at Sherman Hospice Home in Phoenix, Ariz. of complications from breast cancer.
Amber was born December 22, 1972 in Sidney, to parents Gene and Loreen Giese. Amber grew up in eastern Montana living in Savage, Bainville, Froid and Glendive.
The family moved from Glendive to Bozeman, prior to her senior year, and she chose to attend White Sulphur Springs High School for her last year of high school. She graduated in 1991 and went on to graduate from Montana State University in Bozeman in 1996.
Following her graduation from MSU, she moved out to the Minneapolis, Minn. area, where she met her husband, Scott. They were married on September 20, 2003 at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, on the shore of Lake Superior in a beautiful outdoor ceremony.
Amber completed her Master’s in Education at St. Mary’s University in 2006. She taught science, first, at Columbia Heights Middle School in Columbia Heights, Minn., and then, Fred Moore Middle School in Anoka, Minn. At Fred Moore, a highlight every day was a visit from her nephew, Mitch. She taught until the birth of her first son, and then chose to stay at home with her boys.
Married for 13 years, Amber leaves behind her husband, Scott; and two sons, Ethan (8) and Grant (5). She is also survived by her parents, Gene Giese of Helena and Loreen and L.C. Sheline of White Sulphur Springs; her brothers, wives, and families, Greg, Linda, Mitch and Connor Giese of Andover, Minn.; Shane Karole, Kallie and Benjamin Giese of Billings, MT; and Brad and Lisa Giese of Helena; her maternal grandmother, Julia Short of White Sulphur Springs; three aunts, four uncles, and 14 cousins.
She was preceded in death by maternal grandfather, Jack Short of White Sulphur Springs; paternal grandparents, Raymond and Muriel Giese, and uncle, Darrell Giese all of Bainville, Mont.
Amber will be remembered for her love of animals, nature and the outdoors, more specifically for her variety of pets, gardening and hiking; her ability to make friends and impact peoples’ lives no matter where she went; her intense interest in learning all she could about autism in order to help her boys and share that knowledge with others; and her passionate love for her family, especially her two little boys.
Cremation has taken place and a celebration of Amber’s life is planned for Sunday, October 9, 2016 at her home in Independence, Minn. A second celebration will be planned in White Sulphur Springs in June of 2017. Details of these events will follow at a later date.