Gertrude Oddney Ward, 89, passed away Friday, July 1, 2011, at Morningside Heights Care Center in Marshall, Minn. She was born April 22, 1925, in Breckenridge, Minn., to Ole and Gertrude (Otterdahl) Paulson.

Trudy was married to Richard Gerald Ward on Oct. 25, 1944, in Bellingham, Wash. She graduated from St. John's Hospital School of Nursing in Fargo, N.D., in 1944 and practiced nursing throughout her lifetime.

Trudy and her husband, Dick, were charter members of Lutheran Church of the Master, Coeur d'Alene, and were extremely active in church activities and Coeur d'Alene Homes.

Trudy was loved and cherished by her children, grandchildren and by those who knew her.

She is survived by her daughter, Sandy (and Gordon) Crow of Laramie, Wyo.; sons, Rodney (and Jan) Ward of Charleston, S.C., and Gregg (and Nancy) Ward of Cincinnati, Ohio; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Paula Ward Roberts; and husband Richard G. Ward.

A memorial service to honor Gertrude's life will be at a later date in Coeur d'Alene. Arrangements are pending with Yates Funeral Home. Please visit Trudy's online memorial page at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.