Ridenour, Matilda 'Tillie'

Matilda “Tillie” Ridenour, 96, passed away peacefully at her home in Arlington, Iowa, on Aug. 26, 2011. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 29, at Leonard-Muller Funeral Home in Strawberry Point and one hour before services at the church on Tuesday. Funeral services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at Community Bible Church in Strawberry Point, with Pastor Bruce Klett officiating. Interment: Taylorsville Cemetery, rural Arlington.

Tillie was born Oct. 3, 1914, on the Arlington homestead, where she lived all but three years of her life. She was the daughter of Sigmond and Matilda (Krug) Koehler, and sister to Carl and Sam Koehler.

Tillie married Richard “Ross” Ridenour on Dec. 26, 1934. They farmed near Strawberry Point for three years and then moved to the family farm at Arlington where Tillie was born. Tillie was a lifelong resident of Arlington where she farmed and raised her family. She was a life member of the Farm Bureau, charter member of the Rural Electric Coop, member of the Iowa Archeological Society, president for several years of the PTA and other school organizations and the Volga Senior Citizens, local member of the Iowa Coon Hunters, National Wildlife Federation, and National Congressional Committee.

Tillie always looked forward to having hunters around during the different seasons, and particularly enjoyed teaching hunters and training dogs the art of coon hunting. She also enjoyed fishing, hiking, bird watching, dancing, enjoyed people and arrowhead collecting. Tillie collected all of these Indian artifacts on her farm starting at the age of 5; they were her prized collection and her life's work. Her extensive arrowhead collection was one of the finest in the Midwest. She never recovered from it being stolen from her home in January 2006.

Tillie and Ross enjoyed traveling throughout the world during their almost 65 years of marriage and always had great stories to tell about their adventures. Her last excursion was in 1997 when she joined her son Rodney and his family on a three-week trip to New Zealand and Australia. Tillie loved every minute of the trip and especially the wildlife and spending time with her three grandsons.

She will always be remembered by those whose lives she touched and the numerous people she taught and helped throughout her lifetime. She enjoyed a long and healthy life and we will all miss her greatly, but she will always remain with us in spirit.

Tillie is survived by Samuel (Mary) Ridenour of Arlington, and son, Rodney (Leslie) Ridenour of Bozeman, Mont.; 10 grandchildren, including Richard Ross, Randall Reed and Russell Reese Ridenour, all of Bozeman.

Tillie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ross; and her brother, Carl Koehler.

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