Hilda Walker

Hilda Walker, longtime Gallatin County resident, died October 9 at the age of 90. Hilda was born at her parents' homestead in Rosebud County, Montana, the 4th of five girls. While it was challenging growing up on a ranch on the prairie during the depression, Hilda reflected on a wonderfully happy time during which she formed unshakeable family and friendship bonds. After riding horseback to a one room country school though eighth grade, the girls lived on their own in Colstrip to attend high school, where Hilda excelled in academics, basketball and track. After high school, Hilda attended Eastern Montana Normal School and subsequently taught at Willow Crossing, the school she and her sisters had attended as children, Broadus and Bozeman. It was while she was teaching 5th grade at Hawthorne School in Bozeman that Hilda met Ed Walker, whom she married in 1947. Hilda and Ed spent many happy years with their children on the ranch south of Bozeman raising polled Hereford cattle. Hilda grew an amazing garden, canned most of the family's vegetables and fruit, sewed the girls' dresses and could 'throw together' a delicious dinner for unexpected company. She and Ed loved to camp, fish, hunt and ride horseback with family and friends, and during the winter there were countless dinners at each others' homes, usually followed by a rousing game of cards. Rarely did a week pass that she and Ed didn't attend at least one Belgrade, Rosary or MSU ball game. Hilda was an extremely involved parent throughout the years of raising their children. She taught catechism, was a 4-H leader, and attended an endless array of ball games, piano recitals, rodeos and other activities. As a result of her unfailing good cheer, kindness and hospitality, many of her kids' friends have good reason to call Hilda their 'other mom.” When her children were grown, Hilda took a job at the MSU Registrar's office where she worked until her retirement. She and Ed continued to work their farm until Ed's death in 2005. In 2008 Hilda moved to The Lodge retirement home in Bozeman, where she lived until 2010 when poor health necessitated that she live with one of her daughters. At the time of her death she was in the care of Elsie's Assisted Living in Belgrade. Hilda is survived by her daughters, Kathy Sehestedt and Barb Denny, sons-in-law Mike Sehestedt and John Slay, seven grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. She also leaves behind her sisters, Frances Grasky and Evelyn Walker, and many nieces, nephews and friends. Hilda was preceded in death by Ed, her husband of 58 years; her son Don, who died in 2002; her daughter-in-law Karyn Walker; her parents, Fred and Edith Coombe; and sisters Inez Kober and Freeda Ort. A Requiem Mass will be held for Hilda at 11:00 am on Friday October 17 at Holy Rosary Parish in Bozeman. Visitation will be from 1:00-7:00 pm on Thursday, October 16 at Dahl Funeral Chapel and from 10:00-10:45 am on Friday October 17 at Holy Rosary Parish. Internment at Sunset Hills Cemetery will follow the luncheon. In tribute to their grandmother, casket bearers will be her grandchildren JD Walker, Megan Denny Nunn, Clay Denny, Charlotte Walker Kahlstrom, Monica Denny Richards, and William and Jordan Sehestedt. The family hopes that all who attend the service will join them at a luncheon which will immediately follow the service. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.dahlcares.com.