Ida Ann Bishop

1927 - 2018

Ida Ann Bishop

Great Falls - Homemaker and longtime resident of the East Community area, Ida Ann Seidler Bishop, 91, of Great Falls, died of natural causes Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at Highgate Senior Living. A Memorial Service will be held in the Rose Room Chapel at Croxford Funeral Home on Friday, January 4, 2019 at 1:00 PM with Burial to follow at Highland Cemetery.

Ida Ann Seidler was born on October 24, 1927 in Great Falls. She was born of German immigrant farmers, Arthur (Art) and Charlotte (Lottie) Seidler and grew up 20 miles east of Brady in Flat Coulee. Her original birth certificate shows her birth name as "Ita Anna" Seidler, very German as her mother knew little English until Ida started school at South Faris and taught her. She graduated from Great Falls High School in 1944, where she boarded with Mr. and Mrs. Barney, helping take care of their children "Pat & Cookie" and helped at their corner soda fountain store across from the high school. During her younger years she also worked at Hollandworths and after high school she enjoyed working at the "Diana Hughes" clothing store in Great Falls. During this time, she met and married Ralph Bishop on February 28, 1948. They grew up only a few miles apart in the East community area with Ralph, 7 years older than her, and both returned to their roots to farm and raise a family.

Ida was 100% German through and through! She always kept a tidy house with lots of flowers, trees and a beautiful yard. Ida loved all birds, except for magpies - she'd run out the door and whoop and holler if they descended on her yard!! She was very active in the community with 4-H and was the knitting leader for years. She was also involved in the Home Extension Club, Farmers Union, American Legion Auxiliary, Presbyterian church, the garden club and always loved to scrapbook and dance. She was an excellent homemaker and cook, noted for her apple dumplings, cinnamon rolls, maple bars and sugar donuts to name a few.

Ida and Ralph loved their kids, grandkids and through the years traveled to many school and sporting events plus birthdays and holidays. They retired from the farm in 1988 and moved to Great Falls so they could be closer to their retired friends for dancing and traveling, which they did a lot of! Ida also traveled to Germany twice to see her parents' homeland and to visit relatives that she kept in contact with through the years.

We are all grateful to Ida for providing us with the kind of role model that our family can truly be proud of. She was the best babysitter for her grandchildren, but you always needed to call to get on her schedule. She was a busy lady! She will truly be missed by all.

Survivors include her children: son, Jerry of Brady and sons, Beau (Amy), Tucker (Liz), and Cade (Shana); son, Tom (Meg) and children, Nathan, Jennifer (Richard), and Tianmai; son, Kel (Nina) and sons, Chad (Alicia), Ross, and Brett: daughter, Amy and children, Ty (Jyll), Meghan (Matt), Kirstie (Frank), and Katie: 13 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren with one due next week; and sisters, Vi and Shirley.

Ida was preceded in death by her parents, Art and Lottie; her loving husband, Ralph; and two brothers, Max and Gerald.

Memorials are suggested to the Montana Agriculture Center, Fort Benton, MT.

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.croxfordfuneralhome.com