Hildreth Bertha Sarah Grimes

Hildreth “Hildy” (Bruschwein) Grimes,103, of Great Falls, MT died of natural causes on March 5, 2021. A private burial will be held in Sheridan, Wyoming and a “Celebration of Life” will be scheduled in Montana for this summer.

Hildreth was born August 23, 1917 to August and Sarah Bruschwein in Bismarck, North Dakota. After high school, she attended Dakota Business College in Fargo, ND and then began her business career at the ND Agriculture Adjustment Agency in Bismarck. Wanting to help her country during WWII, she headed to San Francisco and worked for the US Army. She later moved back to Minneapolis and worked for International Harvester in the Motor Truck Parts Division. She worked there for several years until she was swept off her feet by William (Bill) Grimes, a meteorologist from Wyoming. They were married in 1950 and spent their first year on Tatoosh Island off the coast of Washington. Transfers took them to Great Falls, Glasgow, and back to Great Falls, where they took up permanent residence and raised their four children.

 As a devoted fulltime mother, Hildy was involved with Cub Scouts, Campfire Girls and PTA serving as Den Leader, Bluebird and Campfire Leader, Homeroom Mother, and PTA President. She sat on the Board of Directors of the Campfire Girls and was instrumental in the purchase and development of Camp Tawaganeo on Salmon Lake. She was also an active member in the Prospect Home Extension Club for over 50 years. In addition to being a good seamstress, she was known throughout the Valley View neighborhood for her delicious cookies!

 Hildy loved the outdoors and spent many a weekend with her family at their cabin in Lincoln, and even hiked the Bob Marshall Wilderness in her 60’s. Once her kids left home, she and Bill traveled throughout the United States and Canada until his death in 1986. She was blessed with good health and continued to travel the US and Canada visiting beloved family and friends until last fall. For 70 years, she traveled each summer to her hometown Driscoll, ND visiting aunts, uncles, siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, and schoolmates, and in the summer of 2020 was awarded “Oldest Alum” at her high school reunion. Hildy contributed her long life to staying active and exercising. She loved concerts, plays, shopping, music, picnics, and participating in the Morony Natatorium Water Aerobics Program attending class twice a week for 25 years until the age of 100. She was a caring individual with a positive attitude and a smile on her face and would never say anything unkind to or about anyone. Her words of wisdom included, “laughter is the best medicine” and “every day is a gift from God.”

Hildy is survived by three children, Gary (Sharon) Grimes of Newport Beach, CA, Marilyn Grimes of Great Falls, MT and Janet (Scott) McDonald of Chandler, AZ; son-in-law Denis (Kathie) Bell; seven grandchildren, Jennifer (Bryan) Graber, Jeff (Sabrina) Lamberson, Jessica (Brian) Graves, Gary (Jackie) Grimes II, Taylor (Mark) Spector , Brooke (Chaz) Shelton, Nathan (Katie) McDonald; and ten great grandchildren, Nicole and Elizabeth Graber; Michael, Isabella and Angelina Lamberson; Grace, George, Graham, and Grady Grimes; and Gus Shelton.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Grimes; daughter Deanna Grimes; granddaughter Jocelyn Bell; brother Harold Bruschwein; sisters Viola Barnhart, Hazel Trautman, Dolores Rosin, and LaVonne Schumaker.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Peace Hospice, Meals on Wheels, CM Russell Art Museum or Redeemer Lutheran Church.

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