Alida Ames, age 88, of Glendive, passed away on Thursday, March 10, 2016 at her home in Glendive with her family by her side.
Visitation was from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday, March 11, 2016 and 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 12, 2016 at the Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 12, 2016 at Zion Lutheran Church in Glendive with Pastor Will Johnson officiating. Interment will be held in the Dawson Memorial Cemetery in Glendive. Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Alida Precilla Moen was born on January 14, 1928, in Epping, N.D., a daughter of George and Lenora Christina (Hovde) Moen. She received her education northeast of Ray, N.D. and graduated high school in Wheelock, N.D.
She met the love of her life, LeRoy Ames (they were on a blind date together, attending a basketball game) and they were united in marriage on April 20, 1947 in Washburn, N.D. three months later. Before Alida and LeRoy had their own children, they became proud foster parents. Alida and LeRoy started their lives together in Wheelock for two years before moving to Whitefish, Mont. for three years, then to Tioga, N.D. for five years, Watford City, N.D. for five years and finally made Glendive their permanent residence in 1962.
Alida started a life-long career in Glendive, caring for mentally and physically handicapped people. She started at Eastmont in 1970 and in 1986 she went to work for the Skyreach Youth Group Home. Alida worked for Skyreach from 1986 until finally slowing down in 2010 when she would fill in when needed.
Alida enjoyed sewing and always had an amazing fashion sense. When the children were young, all the girls’ attire would match and the boys’ outfits would coordinate with theirs. Alida was very proud of all the sets of twins in her family. She was an outstanding cook and made sure to teach her children how to make her Norwegian dishes, like lefse. Any visitors that came to the house never left hungry, Alida made sure of that. There was a time, however, when her cooking didn’t turn out so well. In an attempt to make bread something didn’t turn out right and it was so bad that she threw it out for the pigs to enjoy and even they refused to eat it.
Alida was a member of Women of the Moose, Elks Club, VFW Auxiliary and the GMC Auxiliary. She was a strong willed lady that taught many things to others that she had learned in her past. She and her bling will be missed by all who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband, LeRoy Ames in 2008; her son-in-law, Bob McLain; sister, Neoma Vance; and her parents.
She is survived by her children, Lyla (Larry) Mitchell of Sheridan, Wyo., LaNette Simonton of Glendive, Arnie Ames of Glendive, Andrea (Keith) Huschka of Glendive, and Christie McLain of Apple Valley, Minn.; siblings, Gladys Schonenbach of Sheridan, Wyo., Irene Chamness of Williston, N.D., Joyce (Chuck) Lindsey of Houston, Texas, Orville (Kay) Moen of Epping, N.D., and Orrin (Mary Jean) Moen of Chicago, Ill.; ten grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.