Ida L. Busby

Ida L. Busby, 88, of Lake Park, MN, passed away on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at Sunnyside Care Center, Lake Park, MN.

Ida was born on July 10, 1931 in Moorhead, MN to Otto and Ingeborg Svenkeson.  She grew up on the family farm near Glyndon, MN and talked about going to the river to swim and other simple pleasures of being a carefree farm girl.  She roomed in Moorhead, MN while attending high school and graduated from Moorhead High School at a younger-than-average age.  She met a handsome, dark-haired young man while in school, Ronald Wagner, who would become her husband.  While talking about him she often shook her head in wonder that she was fortunate enough to have him notice her.

The newly married couple started farming in Wolverton, MN and later moved to Hitterdal, MN where they raised their six children.  When the kids were getting a bit older she went back to college, graduated from Moorhead State College with her degree in education, and started a very long and fulfilling career as a grade school teacher in the Hitterdal school system.  She enjoyed knowing she had been instrumental in guiding not only one generation but also a second generation of students in the Hitterdal and Ulen areas.

After Ron’s death Ida discovered a dear companion, Charles (Chuck) Lewis, and they were married on December 26, 1977.  A bakery owner in Hawley, Chuck’s six children quickly doubled the family mix.  Chuck and Ida lived in her home near Hitterdal before fulfilling a life-long wish of hers to live beside a lake.  They purchased a home on Big Cormorant Lake where they enjoyed lake activities.  Ida took pleasure in those peaceful moments on the boathouse deck listening for the loons with either a cup of coffee or nice glass of wine.  Chuck and Ida also discovered a love for travel, and in total Ida had visited 19 different countries.

Ida was once again left alone after Chuck passed away, and had been content living at home by the lake but fate intervened and introduced her to a kind, fun-loving retired farmer from Hitterdal.  Loyal Busby and Ida were married on June 5, 2010 and were featured in a front-page article in the Fargo Forum discussing no limits on age when it comes to finding love.  With their marriage the extended family again grew even more with his ten children.

Ida was a member of the Hawley Methodist Church and often talked about those very delicious “Methodist” donuts she helped make, which were a special treat to anyone who received them.  She was a member of ADK (retired educators) and enjoyed regular meetings with her ADK sisters.  She had a wonderful skill in photography, enjoyed singing and playing the piano, and filled multiple tablets with her personal journals.  All her many children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were precious to her and she was grateful for time together.

Ida is survived by her brother Andrew Svenkeson, and her children/step children (see extended list below).  She was preceded in death by father Otto Svenkeson, mother Ingeborg Svenkeson, sister Elsie Williams, brother Bill Svenkeson, husbands Ronald Wagner, Charles Lewis, and Loyal Busby, granddaughter Tarra Lesley, Deb’s dear George Timko, step sons-in-law Gerain Anderson, Linn Sakrismo, Michael Rydjord and step-daughter Paula Wilson.

Due to the Covid Pandemic, a graveside service will be held for immediate family members only.  Memorials may be made to Hawley Methodist Church or Highland Grove cemetery fund.

Survived by: (Children/ Step-Children)

Sandy (Kyle) Giffey                  Garrison, ND

Debbie Wagner                       West Hills, CA

Ross (Lynette) Wagner           Brainerd, MN

Reed Wagner & Kim Cooke     Bloomington, MN

Steve (Sherry) Wagner           Hancock, MN

Bruce Wagner                         Brookston, MN

Mark (Corrine) Lewis              Seminole, FL

Lee Lewis                                 Hawaii

Kay (Scott) Swenson                Oxnard, CA

Jan (John) Baer                       Prior Lake, MN

Neil Lewis                                Mahnomen, MN

Ilo (Jim) Myhra                        Moorhead, MN

Pat Anderson                           West Fargo, ND

Danny (Lori) Busby                  Hitterdal, MN

David Busby & Terri Fischer   West Fargo, ND

Mary (Raj) Karim                    Duluth, MN

Linda Rydjord                          Vacaville, CA

Jeri Sakrismo                           Twin Valley, MN

Gail (Tom) Spillum                  Hawley, MN

Maureen (David) VanDenEinde    Bejou, MN

Sharon (Gene) Willgohs          Henning, MN

Breck Wilson                           Dilworth, MN

And numerous grandchildren, and great grandchildren.