Lila Bush

Lila Marie Bush, 65, Bismarck, died January 19, 2007, of heart failure at Medcenter One Hospital, Bismarck. Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, January 23, at Faith Lutheran Church, Bismarck, with Pastor Wes Aardahl officiating. Burial will follow the service at Tuttle Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2 PM to 9 PM, Monday, at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck. A prayer service will be held at 4 PM. Lila Knutson, the daughter of Calvin and Mabel Seaberg Knutson, was born on March 12, 1941, in Steele. She was raised on the family farm southeast of Tuttle and graduated from Tuttle High School in 1958. Lila went on to attend college at North Dakota State School of Science in Whapeton. Lila moved to Great Falls, Montana, where she fell in love with 2nd Class Petty Officer, Clyde Bush Jr. They were married in Great Falls on November 27, 1965. In 1980, the family relocated to Bismarck, North Dakota. Lila dedicated her life to loving and supporting her husband, raising and nurturing her children and grandchildren, and holding dear all her family and friends. She gave of herself freely and without condition. Lila dearly loved all the gentle and tender of God's creation, especially little puppies, her dog Dutchess, and Muffin, the cat. She and Clyde shared a love of birds and looked forward to the spring song of the meadowlark and the winter company of the backyard chickadees. Winter often brought her fond memories of the warmth and love her family and friends shared as she was raised with her sister in the "little house" at her family farm on the prairie of North Dakota. Lila and her sister stayed very close even though they were miles apart. As a child who experienced the rewards and struggles of family farming in Kidder County, Lila was a true conservationist of all things left in her care. Her life on the farm as a child created a lifelong love of the outdoors and some of her most enjoyable times were spent gardening and camping. She loved being a grandmother and cherished every moment spent with her grandchildren including times together picking apples, making Lipton noodle soup and 'special' lemonade, playing cars and games, coloring, and reading to them. Her love of all children blossomed each new school year as she helped her daughter prepare her classroom for her new class of 1st Graders. Lila will be forever missed and loved by those who survive her, including her husband, Clyde; her son, Steve Karen of West Fargo; her daughter, Kelli of Bismarck; three grandsons, Steve Jr., Matthew, and Mark, of West Fargo; one sister, JoAnn Adam Stein of Billings; three nephews, Audie Diana Stein of Billings, Randie Stein of West Fargo, and Pete Toni Stein of Billings; her other family; and many special friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents. Mom, you have left us too soon. Your spirit lifted all of us higher than we could have gone on our own. We will never be as strong as we were with You, but always stronger than we could have been without You. Heaven is a happier place today.

Lila Bush

March 12, 1941 - January 19, 2007