Gertrude Ann (Trudy) Chisholm, 88

Gertrude Ann (Trudy) Chisholm, 88, of Hayden,Idaho, passed away on June 26, 2015, at the family home.

There will be a Celebration of Trudy’s Life, July 25, 2015, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Hayden at 2 p.m.

Trudy was born on eb. 26, 192,7 in Crosby, N.D., to Elvin and Olga (Koppang) Nelson, one of three children.

She lived on the family farm and attended school in Crosby, until the family moved to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, when she was 17. She attended Bonners Ferry High School, graduating as Salutatorian of her class. She attended business school in Seattle, Wash.

She married Conrad Alexander Chisholm on June 15, 1946, in Spokane, Wash. They celebrated 69 years of marriage this year. They ran the family farm in Copeland until moving to the Coeur d’Alene area in 1964, and eventually settled on Ramsey Road in Hayden, where she lived until her passing. Trudy worked as a bookkeeper for the family’s John Deere implement business. She also worked as an extension homemaker, teaching many young women to cook, sew, can food, and take care of their homes. She then worked for Marc-Sue fabrics for several years.

Trudy was a founding member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and a tireless volunteer for many organizations, including the North Idaho Fair, 4-H, and Little League. But by far her largest volunteer effort was for Kootenai Medical Center Auxiliary, where she had more than 3,000 hours of service.

Trudy joined the American Legion Auxiliary in Coeur d’Alene in 1965. She had 50 years continuous membership. She had served in nearly all positions at the unit, district and state levels. She served as department (state) president in 1984-1985. She was also active in the 8 & 40, having joined in fall 1969. She was a member for 45 years. She served in most all positions at the local level and the state level. She served two terms as Le Chapeau Departmental (state president), including 1988-1989 and again from 1989-1990.

Trudy was well known for her cooking and baking, and won many prizes at the fair. She also served as a judge at many county fairs throughout north Idaho. She was an avid card player as well as very good bowler, and participated in league bowling in to her 80s. She loved gardening and taking care of her yard, which she was so proud of. But her greatest joy was being a devoted wife to Conrad, a mother to her three children, a grandmother to three and a great-grandmother to two.

Trudy is survived by her husband Conrad Chisholm of Coeur d’Alene; daughter Patricia Petersen and her husband Robert Petersen of Post Falls; son Michael Chisholm of Post Falls; son Dan Chisholm and his wife Loretta (White) Chisholm of Mullan; three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; two nephews and one niece. She was preceded in death by infant daughter Barbara, her parents and two brothers. She was laid to rest at Grandview Cemetery in Bonners Ferry. She will be truly missed by all who knew her.

Charitable donations in Trudy’s name, if desired, can be made to Kootenai Health Auxiliary.

Visit Trudy’s online memorial at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com and sign her guest book.