Ida Fischer

Ida Boehler Fischer, 95, Bismarck, passed away peacefully and comfortably in hospice care at the Baptist Home in Bismarck on December 29, 2007. Services will be held at 2:00 pm Friday at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, with Rev. Clyde Leimberer officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck. Ida was born to Frederich and Katherina Behler Boehler in a sod house August 14, 1912, in Mercer County, north of Hebron, North Dakota. She began first grade in a "big one-room brown school house" not far from the family homestead and finished eighth grade in another Mercer County school. After her marriage to Richard "Dick" Fischer on May 30, 1939, the couple left for Oakland, CA, for a few years where Ida did various kinds of work including housekeeping and waiting tables. After the Pearl Harbor attack of 1942, Ida and Richard returned to North Dakota and took up farming. In 1954 they moved to Bismarck where Ida worked well into her 80s and lived out her many remaining years. She was a member of the Bismarck Baptist Church since 1956 where she was active in the Ladies Society and other church groups. She said she loved her church. Ida was known for raising big and bountiful gardens and over the years put up thousands of jars of delicious fruits and vegetables which she always shared with family, particularly her wonderful dill pickles. She was also a baker and cook of renown whose kitchen produced culinary delights savored by friends and family alike. She always looked forward to company, especially family, grandchildren and great grandchildren and fed them well. To Ida, sharing food was sharing love. She and Dick greatly appreciated the small luxuries they allowed themselves such as bus tours of the United States and Canada. Ida exemplified the prairie pioneer spirit of self-reliance, strength and grit. She is survived by her son Gaylen Patricia Fischer of Bettendorf, IA; her sister-in-law, Lorraine Herbert Boehler; her brothers-in-law, Ted and Walter Fischer; and her daughter-in-law, Mary Virgil Boehler. Ida leaves seven grandchildren, Scott Boehler of Livingston, MT, Kevin Karen Boehler of Cartwright, ND, Cole Marilyn Irey Boehler of Butte, MT, Mark Lisa Caye Boehler of St. Paul, MN, Mary Boehler Miller Tim Miller of Glendive, MT, Kim Ann Boehler Koenig Dan Koenig of Ronan, MT, and Lisa Boehler Skalsky Todd Skalsky of Polson, MT; Ida also had 20 great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her son, Virgil Boehler; her step-son Clyde Fischer; seven brothers; and four sisters.

Ida Fischer

August 14, 1912 - December 29, 2007