Hilda Bloomquist

Hilda passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014, at the age of 91 in Missoula following a long illness.

Hilda was born in Missoula in 1923 to Oscar and Mattie Bloomquist. She attended Franklin and Willard Elementary Schools and graduated from Missoula County High School in 1941.

Following high school, she did switchboard and secretarial work at St. Patrick Hospital. In 1943, she moved to Spokane, Washington, where she also worked as a secretary in the medical field. She attended Whitworth College in Spokane for two years before being employed at the Spokane Air Technical Command. While in Spokane she joined the Seventh Day Adventist Church and was an avid Adventist during her lifetime.

In 1950, Hilda moved back to Missoula to attend the University of Montana where she attained a degree in business administration in 1952. She then moved to Holland, Michigan, where she worked as a commercial business teacher and registrar at the Adventist Adelphian Academy. She later moved to Southern California and enrolled in the Loma Linda School of nursing, graduating in 1958. Her career as a registered nurse began in Southern California which was followed by an opportunity to work in Sweden at the Hultafors Adventist Hospital. Because of the illness of her parents, she had to return to Missoula in 1962.

From Missoula, she moved to New York City and enrolled in Columbia University attaining a master's degree in health education in 1966. She lived for a time in the International House in New York. She worked at the Lenox Hill Hospital as a supervisor for four years and later became the assistant director of nursing at Brooklyn Medical Center. She then moved to California in 1975 and worked as a hospital nursing director in Sacramento and Simi Valley hospitals.

In 1980, she moved to Brunswick, Maine, to work as a health educator at the Parkview Adventist Hospital for four years. In addition to teaching community classes, she hosted a daily radio program entitled, "Focus on Health." This experience was followed by a return to California where she worked as an administrator at the Ventura Estates Nursing Facility until she retired from nursing in 1991.

She moved to Lodi, California, where she began her retirement career as a published writer in 1992. She attended journalism classes at Stockton City College and was offered a position as a columnist, writing a bi-monthly column on contemporary human interest subjects for the Stockton Record and the Lodi News Sentinel. She also worked as a coordinator and lecturer for eight years with the local CHIP (coronary heath improvement program) Program.

Hilda moved back to Missoula in 2005 and lived at the Missoula Manor Senior Apartments. There she began another retirement career as a teacher of health subjects to other residents.

In 2006, she became a lecturer on International Cruise ships. Her lecture topics were health-related and this afforded the opportunity to continue international travels which she enjoyed throughout her lifetime. Her travel excursions took her to all continents of the world except Antarctica.

Hilda was preceded in death by her parents and sister Guri Livesey.

She is survived by her sister Olga (Marvin) Troutwine of Missoula; nieces, Betty Ann (Swede) Gustafson of Missoula, Audrey (John) Troutwine of Santa Cruz, California, Judy Troutwine of Missoula; nephews, Bruce (Cheryl) Troutwine of Missoula, Gerald (Roberta) Livesey of Quakertown, Pennsylvania, Robert (Ruth) Livesey of Missoula and Glenn (Linda) Livesey of Missoula. She is also survived by many grand-nieces and nephews as well as many friends who contributed to making her life such a source of joy. She described herself as blessed with a life that had afforded her opportunities to honor the Lord in many areas of service.

The family expresses gratitude to the loving and capable staff at BeeHive Homes Assisted Living and to Partners in Home Care Hospice for making Hilda's end of life a comfortable experience.

A memorial service will be conducted at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Missoula at 10 a.m. Sept. 8. Condolences can be left for the family at missoulafuneralhomes.com
Read Hilda Bloomquist's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.