Ida Kottenbrock

Ida Barbara Kottenbrock, 90, fulfilled her life’s goal and joined God in Heaven on February 12, at her home at St. Vincent’s in Bismarck. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, March 11 at Pro-Cathedral of St. Mary, 825 E Broadway Ave, Bismarck. A rosary/vigil will begin at 9:30 AM. 

Ida was born on November 8, 1933. She was the second of six children to Daniel and Katherine Gartner.  She was raised on the Gartner farm and graduated from Glen Ullin High School in 1951. Ida met Alvin while attending a barn dance. They were married on June 21, 1955, and moved to Haymarsh on the Kottenbrock farm. When not being a housewife or having a friendly garden competition with her mother-in-law, Christine, she was busy raising seven children. Every Saturday you could smell fresh bread or donuts being baked and Sundays a fresh baked pie. Later in their marriage Ida cared for her ailing husband who fell ill with Multiple Sclerosis. Unfortunately, Alvin died in 1985 at his home where Ida cared for him until the end.  Ida was left to look after the farm and three children.  She still managed to give herself a break with two trips to Medjugorje and Rome.

 In 1999 she moved in with her daughter Kathy, in Bismarck. Ida’s pride was making sure the house was spic and span and redecorating knick knacks. She was kept on her toes by her grandkids, Lindsey and Jayden, while playing kickball in the backyard in a skirt or frosting the many honey cookies they made together. This usually ended with more frosting on her face than the cookies. There was nothing she was prouder of than all of her grandkids.

In 2002, Ida ventured out on her own into an apartment on 8^th St. in Bismarck. If you drove around downtown, you most likely would see Ida making her second or third daily trip on foot to Cathedral or St. Mary’s church and Terry’s Health Products, no matter the weather. Nothing was more important to her than her faith. Ida continued keeping houses spic and span by cleaning several families’ homes in Bismarck. 

In August of 2014, Ida moved to Lakewood Landing in Mandan where she made plenty of friends with the staff.  She kept everyone in the facility laughing and on their toes with her witt and humor. She would always say “This place would be deader than a doornail without me.” In July 2019 her health declined, leading her to move to St. Vincent’s Nursing Home. There she was able to attend church on a daily basis once again. She was the heart of St. Vincent’s, keeping everyone entertained; it won’t be the same without her. Ida would always say someone "looked like someone she knew from Haymarsh or Glen Ullin." 

Ida is survived by her seven children, Mark Kottenbrock of Bismarck, David Kottenbrock of Hebron, Kathy (Mitch) Brown of Bismarck, Gerard (Cathy) Kottenbrock of Fargo, Daniel Kottenbrock of Fargo, Lori Blotsky of Steilacoom, WA, and Stephen (Tonika) Kottenbrock of Prosper, Texas; 17 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren & one great-great-grandchild; and siblings, Wilbert (Hilda) Gartner of Fargo and Esther (Duane) Burman of Sioux Falls, SD.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin; son, Kenneth; parents, Daniel and Katherine Gartner; and three sisters & brothers-in-law, Rosemary and Nick Ell, Marlene and Gene Tschosik and Viola and Dan Hartin.

Ida’s family would like to express their gratitude for all those who loved and cared for her throughout her time at St. Vincent’s and Lakewood Landing.

Bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck.