Leota Bippes went home to be with her Lord on April 22, 2013. She was born July 25, 1919, in Bottineau, N.D., to Victor and Clara Johnson.

Leota grew up on a small farm with seven brothers and sisters. She graduated from Bottineau High School and later married Arthur Gardner on Sept. 17, 1938. They raised seven children, five sons and two daughters, on a small farm in the Turtle Mountains of North Dakota.

Leota was a loving mother, and oftentimes had to be our nurse when sickness and minor accidents happened. She labored over a wood cook stove, preparing meals for her family. She washed the diapers and clothes on a scrub board in a tub, and milked up to nine cows.

In 1956 the family moved to Post Falls and in 1961 Leota went to beauty school and had her own shop at Stateline with many faithful customers throughout the years. In 1964 she married William Bippes and lived in the Spokane Valley for 48 years. She lost her husband Bill in 2001 and lived by herself until 2012.

Leota was well cared for by Generation Assisted Living and Wellness in Rathdrum the last years of her life. She loved working outside in her yard and garden, harvesting the fruits and vegetables. Leota enjoyed having her children and their families over especially at Christmas time. She celebrated her 90th birthday in 2009 with all her extended family at her home.

Leota was preceded in death by her sisters, Viola Rowland, Addie Bays and Marlene Ackerman; brothers, Norman Johnson, Laurel Johnson and Dick Johnson; great-granddaughter Jchell Markham; great-grandson Justin Gardner and great-great-grandson Keagan Cobb.

She is survived by her brother, Don (Gay) Johnson of Post Falls; sons, Kenneth (Dorothy) Gardner of Unionville, Va., Bob (Lyle) Gardner of Post Falls, Dennis (Carol) Gardner of Rathdrum, Clayton and Carolyn Gardner of Lillian, Ala., and Lester (Marilyn) Gardner of Post Falls; daughters, Laura (Jim) Blankenship of Covington, Wash., and Betty (Rod) Borley of Post Falls; 22 grandchildren; 57 great-grandchildren and 16 great-great-grandchildren.

Viewing will be held from 4-6 p.m. Friday, April, 26, 2013, at English Funeral Chapel in Post Falls. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 27, 2013, also at English Funeral Chapel with a reception to follow. Burial will be at Latah Evergreen Cemetery in Latah, Wash. Please sign Leota’s guest registry and view her online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.