Ida Sauer Erdman

Ida Sauer Erdman went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, April 8, 2005 at Samaritan Hospital, with her family at her side.

A time for final visitation has been set aside at Stevens Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 beginning at noon and concluding at 7 p.m. A celebration of life for Ida will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 at the Othello Assembly of God Church 705 E. Juniper, Othello, WA 99344 with Pastor Kim Kruger and Pastor Rich Morris officiating. Interment in Bess Hampton Memorial Gardens, Othello will follow.

Ida Sauer was born on May 24, 1908 to John Jr., and Lydia Schultz Sauer on her grandparents homestead near Lind. The family spoke German and Ida had to learn English in a one-room country school she attended until eighth grade, walking an hour on foot or by horse and buggy. The Sauer family attended the country church near their farm, and their father John Sauer was a deacon, in the winter he went early in the mornings to start the fire in the church so the families would be warm when they arrived. When the church was moved into Lind, and became Zion Congregational Church, Ida was the first child to be confirmed. She attended the church's 50th year celebration.

Ida was 12-years-old when her mother died, leaving the oldest daughter Leontina to care for the younger siblings. Her father, John Sauer remarried, to Dorothy Linda Erdman and John brought his new wife her children with them from Dodge, ND to the Lind family farm.

Ida met our father Albert Martin Erdman through her father's marriage to Dorothy Erdman. Ida and Albert were married on April 15, 1925. During the first years of their marriage, they lived on the Sauer family farm. Seven of the nine children were born on the Sauer farm, Dorothy Erdman Sauer was a mid-wife and delivered majority of her grandchildren.

During their years of marriage they lived in Lind, Addy, Chewelah, and Spokane. In 1946 they moved from Copeland Apartments in Hillyard area, to Cunningham, and in 1947 moved to Hatton. Ida worked for area farmers wives, and she never had a driver's license so the farmer or his wife would drive from Cunningham, Connell, Hatton, or their farm to Ida's home and take her to their home for her to clean, starting at $.50. She also did ironing in her home. Ida has out-lived all the farmers and their wives that she worked for. She worked until she was 80 years old.

They lived in Hatton until 1979, when Albert passed away. Ida sold the home and moved to Othello. She enjoyed living in her mobile home — her first automatic washer and dryer. When she was 93 she started to have a few health problems so she sold her mobile home and moved in with her daughter Linda and Harley Stewart in Moses Lake. In June of 2004, she fell and fractured her back, entered Sunbridge Care and Rehab Center and lived there until she passed away at Samaritan Hospital on Friday, April 8.

When Ida turned 90 the family held a "Celebration of Life" in her honor. Many family and friends who attended this celebration, also attended her 94th birthday celebration.

She enjoyed her flowers and vegetable garden. She home-made wheat rolls until she could no longer knead the dough. Ida always had the cookie jar full of cookies, sour cream molasses was our dad's favorite. Everyone headed for the cookie jar the minute they came in the door — "where's the cookies Mom - Grandma"?

Her mother taught her to crochet, she crocheted afghans and doilies for all her children, grandchildren and great-children. Many of her grandchildren received a crochet afghan when they graduated from high school, married, or when a new grandchild was born they would receive a baby afghan. When family or close friends came to visit some would receive a doily saying — here is something to remember me by.

She was a charter member of First Assembly of God Church in Othello, was baptized in the church after she dedicated her life to the Lord. Ida never missed a service and helped clean the church for many years along with her daughter Lillian. She left her family a great heritage, knowing that Jesus Christ was her personal Lord and Savior. Many times she would say, "Without Jesus I would have never made it thus far." Our Mother was longing for Jesus, (Longing for Jesus) one of her favorite songs. Ida was ready for the Lord to take her home.

She is survived by her sister Ruth Nicholson of Hunters; her nine children; three sons, Alvin and Hazel Erdman of Spokane, Robert and Ruth Erdman of Cottonwood, Ariz., Walt and Bettie Erdman of Othello; six daughters, Dorothy Look of Kennewick, Lillian LeRoy of Othello, Irene Brownfield of Nespelem, Pauline and Dick Stolp of Lolo, Mont., Caroline and Carl Sharp of Columbia Falls, Mont. and Linda and Harley Stewart of Moses Lake; along with 27 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; and 34 great-great-children with one on the way, including many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents John and Lydia Sauer; three brothers, Rudolph, Emil, and Julius Sauer; and two sisters, Elsie Erdman and Leontina Roth.

She left behind a wonderful Christian heritage for her family. Mom, Grandma we love you, we miss you, and thank you for all you have done for us.

Services are under the direction of Stevens Funeral Chapel.