Ivy Hildebrand

Ivy L. Hildebrand, age 102 of Sauk Centre, died Sunday, December 27, 2009 at St. Michael's Nursing Home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, December 30 at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Rev. Kathy Schuler will officiate with interment following in Greenwood Cemetery.

Visitation will be at the funeral home Wednesday one hour prior to the service.

Ivy Hildebrand was born May 24, 1907 in Westport Township, Pope County, Minnesota to Carl and Mabel (Gray) Hildebrand. She was a teacher, antiquarian, historian, storyteller, preacher of sorts, and driver of fast red cars. Her teaching career began in a one-room school house, took her to New Mexico, back to the high school in Willmar, and retired as a history professor at Willmar Community College. She retired in June of 1972. Since 2004 she had resided at St. Michael's Nursing Home.Her love of history was only topped by her passion for politics, always willing to carry on a discussion, and always fascinating to listen to. She is also known for writing, "Sauk Centre, The Story of a Frontier Town." Her life touched the lives of all who knew her and the lives of her many thousands of students.Ivy was a lifelong member of the Episcopal church and locally of the Church of the Good Samaritan. She was also a member of the Sauk Centre Area Historical Society, Stearns County Historical Society, the Minnesota Historical Society, the Minnesota Education Association, and the National Education Association.

Survivors include three nephews, Dennis (Mary Ann) Sullivan of White Bear Lake, Bill (Deb) Hildebrand of Champlin, and Dick (Connie Asplund) Hildebrand of Brooklyn Center; great-nieces, Gina Asplund and Erin (Dan) Havens; great-nephews, Erik and Chad Hildebrand, Matthew (Natalie) Sullivan, and Patrick (Anna) Sullivan.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Jack Hildebrand; sisters, Nellie Sullivan and Marie "Jo" Cater; nephew, Thomas Sullivan.

Serving as casket bearers will be Bill, Dick, Erik and Chad Hildebrand, Matthew and Patrick Sullivan.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Sauk Centre Dollars for Scholars.