Ida Bjorsen Hawkings (Knudsen)
September 24, 1930 – January 31, 2022

It is with profound sorrow; we announce that Ida’s remarkable life ended peacefully at the age of 91 surrounded by her family. Survived by her four daughters: Catherine Neale Ward, Linda Neale (Rod Lidberg), Carolyn (Bruce Cram), Jaclyn (Dwight Draker), and honorary daughter Krista (Marc Heiligers). Grandchildren: Jesslyn (Joe Michel), Benjamin, Jonathan, Emily (Steve Mathers), Dylan and Lauryn. Great grandchildren: Faith, Sophia, Violet, Alivia, Nora, Simon, and grand dog Ripley.

Ida was predeceased by her parents Lauritz (Larry) and Astrid Knudsen, brother Henry Knudsen and sister Margaret Eden.

Ida arrived on September 24, 1930, in Trochu Alberta. She was the first born of Lauritz and Astrid Knudsen, immigrants from Denmark. The tumult of WW II changed her early life when the family moved to Calgary so Larry could utilize his skills as a mechanic in the Blackfoot train yards to assist in the war efforts. Brother, Henry, was a welcome addition, in those times.

After the war, the family moved to Eckville where Larry operated a farm equipment dealership and garage. Ida welcomed another sibling, Margaret, eight years her junior. Donna Coppock and Ida developed a lifelong friendship there. In those times, rural children that lived in Central Alberta and that wanted to go to high school would live in the “dorms” in Red Deer and attend “the Comp” high school. Ida was a very socially overt addition to the cast of many lasting friendships that developed. During high school summer vacations Ida helped her friend, Donna, operate a coffee shop in Sylvan Lake sailed with her father and danced her feet off at Varsity Hall, as did her oldest daughter. She was an active member of the LTCHS alumni and attended her 70th High School Reunion in 2017. All four of Ida’s daughters are alumni from the LTCHS.
After high school she attended McTavish Business College in Edmonton. She began honing her skills at technical writing.

She married her high school boyfriend, John Neale, the creamery manager in Eckville and they welcomed their first daughter, Catherine, in 1954. Linda joined in 1958 in Stettler and Carolyn in Alix in 1961. Ida was hostess extraordinaire and regularly active in the UCW, IODE in Alix. She was in bridge clubs. She met lifelong friends Jean Newton and Blanche Derwantz in Stettler and Marie Booth in Alix.

Ida served as The Calgary Herald correspondent in Stettler. She covered a very notorious, multi- murder trial, the Cooke family massacre, in 1959.

Jaclyn came along in 1964 soon after the family moved to Red Deer. Mom and Betty Brown, our neighbor, met and became forever friends.

Ida worked as a continuity writer at CKRD in the late 60’s early 70’s, as well as for Dr. Onerheim and Michener Centre in administration. She suited working in Student Services at Red Deer College starting in 1974 and ending when she had to leave the position for surgery after a vehicle accident.

Ida was an avid reader. She spent some time on the coast of Oregon with a dear friend, who wrote popular television series of the time, writing and recuperating from the accident in 1976.
She joined her second husband, Elmer Hawkings, in Benalto, at the farm, in 1979. They wintered in Hawaii and Arizona. Ida was an entertaining addition and asset to Goldeye Lake Centre in the late 70’s operating the front desk and conducting administration, working part-time. She loved the job, the people and location. She eventually moved full time to the Centre.

In 1983 Ida returned to Red Deer where she has participated and contributed to the community since. She loved swimming, singing at the top of her voice, dancing, being vivacious, playing tile rummy, scrabble and most recently accomplished playing computerized mah-jong. Ida enjoyed the traditions of the seasons like making shortbread with Marie Booth every Christmas, walking at Bower Ponds as well as catching the sunset on a summer evening at Sylvan Lake with Betty Brown & the girls. They would jump in the car after their work with the hibachi, food, and refreshments. She supported the United Church Women’s booth for pie at the fair and attending the fireworks in the evening. Staying at the cottage at the back of the campground at Gull in the summers with Betty Brown & kids in the early 80’s was a highlight. She supported Mrs. C’s (Corsiatto) in the events hosted at Sunnybrook Farm. Ida loved attending local arts and cultural events over the years with the likes of long-time friends Jean Holmes, Isabelle Moore, and Doreen MacDonald to name a few and always in attendance at the Jazz Festival at Sylvan Lake with Marie Booth. Always, one of the daughters including the 5th sister, Krista (Brown) Heiligers, participated in attending events and activities.

In 2010, as the oldest cast member, 78 years, she demonstrated her prowess of speech, in the local production of The Vagina Monologues.

A true adventurer, Ida travelled widely, accompanying daughters many times to Mexico, Victoria regularly, Denmark, an Alaskan cruise, and months at a time in Barbados. She travelled with Betty Brown to Austria and Germany in 1983. The Fairmont hotels were her preferred choices at the Banff Springs, Jasper Park Lodge, Empress in Victoria, and Palliser.

Grandma Ida (GG) was instrumental in contributing to the upbringing of her Grandchildren. GG brought love and fun to wherever she landed! She endeared and contributed significantly to the stability of Jesslyn’s and Jonathan’s formative years. She travelled to the Muskoka’s with Ben and Emily to participate in the summer, lake traditions of their paternal Cram family which included Ida assisting in the cooking and maintenance aspects of the fourteen cousins of that generation of cousins. Grandma Ida endeared Jonathan and was a great support and travel companion. GG provided whatever assistance that was required when the twins, Lauryn and Dylan arrived in 2004. She introduced and blasted Neil Diamond and ABBA to all the grandkids.

Ida was witty and out-spoken leaning to outrageous. You could expect the unexpected in any adventure with her.

Ida’s greatest accomplishment was mentoring and gifting her daughters to becoming educated, strong, independent, loving, kind and fun. She was the Matriarch of a clan that have walked together in life journeys that have precious memories and many, hilarious and heartfelt chapters, and stories.

The family acknowledges, with sincere appreciation, the compassionate care provided by her team of health professionals at Extendicare Michener Hill.

Ida always loved a parade and no doubt, hers will continue. “Vi elsker dig” – we love you.

The celebration of Ida’s life will be announced at a later date.

• Date : 2022-01-31
• Location : Eventide Funeral Home