Gertrude M. Ford

MISSOULA – Gertrude M. Ford, 88, of Missoula, passed away in the arms of her daughter and son-in-law on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013, at her home at the Springs of Missoula.

She was born in Ryegate on Nov. 28, 1924, to Peter and Minna Harms. She grew up on the dryland farm her parents homesteaded in Lavina, Mont. Gert was one of nine children in the Harms family. She graduated from Lavina High School and married James Arthur Ford on Sept. 30, 1942.

When her husband Jim went overseas to fight in World War II, Gert worked as a riveter in one of the airplane factories in Seattle. This identified her as a "Rosie the Riveter," one of the many women who performed wartime airplane/industrial work previously reserved only for men in that era.

Gert was an exemplary mother to her two daughters and their friends, always working tirelessly to make her home a safe haven and provide a secure environment for them to flourish. She was a quiet, unobtrusive woman that planted the seeds enabling her daughters to choose their own paths, make their own decisions, and learn the self-confidence necessary to accomplish all their goals. She never put her needs ahead of her daughters' and other loved ones.

Gert was a woman with many talents and interests. She grew a garden and canned fruits, vegetables and meats to provide for her family. She milked cows and made homemade butter. She cooked delicious meals from basic home ingredients and fed many friends and family at her table. She could put a fabulous home cooked meal on the table faster than any fast food restaurant or drive-in. There were always fresh baked cookies after school for all that came to her house. She spent 23 years cooking hot lunch for the students at Target Range Elementary School until 1987 when she retired.

Gert was also an accomplished seamstress. She sewed dresses, shirts, skirts and other clothing for her daughters, including the dress that Patricia, her eldest daughter, wore as a bride in her wedding. Not only did she sew clothes, but also made numerous seat covers and miscellaneous accessories for Jim's hunting and fishing equipment. She was the first assistant to her husband Jim when he decided to build an airplane. She cut fabric and painted the dope on the welded frame of the airplane. Gert helped sew the finishing touches on many quilts for family, friends and charity.

Gert loved antique furniture before it was popular. She could bring the beauty out of any old piece of furniture with her loving hands and accomplished knowledge of restoration.

She cared deeply for her brothers and sisters. Her nickname should have been "the Helper." She spent her summers helping her brother Pete with ranch duties in Big Timber; aiding her sister Isabell in New Jersey, who suffered from MS; assisting her sister Mary Ann in Texas with whatever needed to be done.

Gert traveled to many wonderful places, encountering beautiful scenery and experiencing a variety of adventures. She traveled from coast-to-coast in the U.S., as well as Alaska, Hawaii, France and Germany. She frequently spent time with her daughters at Georgetown and Flathead lakes, where she was joined by friends and family.

She will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure to know her. She leaves behind many memories of a quiet, strong, selfless woman that never spoke a bad word of anyone.

Gertrude is preceded in death by her daughter, Patricia (Patsy) Antonich; her mother and father; her sisters, Minnie Krause, Margaret Schulz, Isabell Kapler and her brothers Jurgen, Charles and Art Harms.

She is survived by daughter Sandra Worrell; son-in-law Daniel Worrell; son-in-law Bill Antonich; grandson Terry Worrell and his wife Jennifer; grandson Trevor Worrell and his wife Amber; grandson Scott Antonich and his wife Chantal; great-granddaughters, Carolyn and Justine Antonich and great-grandson Spencer Worrell; sister Mary Ann Gunn and brother Peter Harms.

A memorial service will tentative be held on April 27.

The family suggests any memorial contributions be made to Hospice of Missoula, 800 Kensington, Suite 204, Missoula, MT 59801.

Read Gertrude Ford's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.