Gretchen Alice Ridge

Gretchen A. Ridge, age 82, died of natural causes February 9, 2021, at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital, Bozeman, MT. Gretchen was born January 2, 1939, in Alexandria, LA, to Albert and Elsie (Beauregard) Ridge. She and her two brothers and one sister were raised in Shreveport, LA. She received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Louisiana Tech in Ruston, LA, and a Pharmacy degree from Northeast Louisiana University (now University of Louisiana Monroe) in Monroe, LA.



Gretchen worked her entire career as a chemist at PPG Chemicals in Sulphur, LA, and lived over 50 years in the Lake Charles, LA, area. Gretchen enjoyed reading and traveling and had a great appreciation for art and music. She and many of her coworkers at PPG remained close friends in retirement.



In late August and September of 2020, two hurricanes (Laura and Delta) destroyed her home. She then moved to Bozeman, MT, with her sister Kathleen. She moved to an apartment at The Springs in Bozeman at the end of October and resided there until becoming gravely ill in mid-January 2021.



Gretchen was preceded in death by her parents whom she cared for in their old age. She is survived by brothers David (Edythe Strand) Ridge, Shoreline, WA, and Daniel (Grace) Ridge, Tacoma, WA, and by her sister Kathleen Wilke, Bozeman, MT. She is also survived by nieces Dagny Denten, Charlotte, NC, Virginia Wilke, San Diego, CA, Dianne Bohach, Lakewood, CO, and Layla (Ryan) Huff, Woodinville, WA, as well as three great nieces and two great nephews.



Memorials in Gretchen’s name may be made to Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana, P.O. Box 3125, Lake Charles, LA, 70602, or to a charity of your choice.