Ida Shipton

Ida May Shipton of Gwinner, ND passed away August 24, 2025 at the CHI Oakes Hospital.

She was born to Ralph and Grace (Briggs) Messersmith on March 12, 1933 at Knox, North Dakota, where she grew up and attended school. After her schooling, Ida moved to Devils Lakes, North Dakota to work, and it was there that she met Richard Shipton while he was in the National Guard. It was love at first sight, and Richard got Ida a job at the North Dakota Veterans Home in Lisbon so she could be closer. They were married on January 13, 1951. The guard was activated during the Korean Conflict and Richard got sent to Camp Rucker in Dothan, Alabama, and Ida followed him there. After his honorable discharge, the family moved to Minnesota to work on a farm and then later to Lisbon, where they owned and operated the Coffee Cup Café. Over the years, the family moved back and forth between Arizona and North Dakota before settling in the Stirum area for 20 years. In 2006 they moved to Gwinner, but continued wintering in Arizona. Richard passed away on December 30, 2010. Ida's hobbies included painting, sewing and reading. Ida also enjoyed traveling, and she continued her travels after Richard's death.

She is survived by her children, Grace (Les) Cattin, Stanley (Laurel) Shipton, Shirley Shipton and Dennis Shipton; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ida was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Richard, daughters Debra Eminowicz and Lois Carol Calhoun, brother John Messersmith, sisters Jane Book and Mildred Nelson, granddaughter Carolyn Calhoun, and son-in-law Bill Hornbeck.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 29, 2025 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. followed by the funeral service at 1:30 p.m. at Dahlstrom Funeral Home in Oakes. Burial will be at Stirum Cemetery near Stirum. Ida's service will be live streamed below.