Ida Heller

Heller, Ida
83, Apache Junction, AZ and Berthold, ND, died Saturday, December 12, 2015, in a Mesa, AZ hospital. Ida Katherine Heller was born March 30, 1932, the ninth child of Olaf and Borghild (Nelson) Moen. At two weeks old, her family moved to Sundre Township of Ward County, located south of Minot, where they lived for the next 14 years. Ida was educated in Bell School #3, a mile walk to the east, which educated children grades 1-8 in the same room. She attended church and Sunday school at Saron Lutheran Church. In 1946, her folks bought their first farm near Carpio. It came with running water as the well was located outside the door of the kitchen. Ida finished high school in Carpio in an old hotel building on Main Street that was utilized in place of the old school that burned down, graduating with the class of 1950. She borrowed her tuition money from her sister Lilly to attend Minot State College earning her Summer School Certificate authorizing her to teach in a rural school setting. She was hired to teach school near Lake Darling for four students. Ida was united in marriage to Joy Heller on October 21, 1950 at Zion Lutheran Church in Berthold. They purchased a trailer house, often moving the house in pursuit of Joy's work for local farmers in the area until a permanent move to Minot happened in 1955. In 1963, they purchased the old Stalwick home in Berthold, remodeling it to fit their growing family. The purchase of the Berthold Cafe from Gordon and Linda Ulberg started a new chapter of life for Ida in 1967. They moved the business into their own building on the corner in 1970, where they owned and operated the business for twenty years until they retired. Retirement led them to utilize their motor home, The Delta, traveling south to their winter home in Apache Junction, AZ. Joy passed away March 28, 2014. Ida was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Berthold, and Elks, Eagles and Moose Lodges. She enjoyed family and friends, listening to good old country or gospel music, cooking and baking, and watching the Wheel of Fortune on TV. Ida's loving family includes her children, JoEllen (Jerry) Meade, Cheyenne, WY, Jeanne Brostrom, Los Angeles, CA, Jane (Mike) Gebhart, Meadow, SD and Jordan (Diana) Heller, Fargo; eleven grandchildren; twenty-nine great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; sister Flory Kennedy; brother, Arne Moen; sister-in-law Veronic Moen and numerous nieces and nephews. Ida was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Joy, son, Jerry, granddaughter, Renee Myhra and siblings: Olga (Heller), Herbert, Bergliot (Munson), George, Ella (Henrickson), Melvin, Lilly (Heller), Evelyn (Grabow), Esther (Lemmons). Celebration of Ida's Life was held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 21, 2015, at Zion Lutheran Church, Berthold, ND. Interment: Wildrose Cemetery, Berthold, ND. Memorials are preferred to Zion Lutheran Church, Berthold, North Dakota. Arrangements in care of Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot, ND. Those wanting to sign the online memorial register or share memories and condolences are invited to use the expressions of sympathy section at www.thomasfamilyfuneralhome.com.