Obituary: Barbara Gedrose

Barbara Gedrose

Fort White, Fla.

Barbara Ann Gedrose, 89, of Fort White, Fla. went to be with the Lord on Tuesday morning, Jan. 21, 2025 at the Lake Montgomery Rehabilitation & Nursing Facility in Lake City, Fla.

Her visitation was held Friday, Jan. 31 from 1-2 p.m. followed by the funeral service at 2 p.m., both at the Evans Funeral Home, New Rockford. Pastor Chris Brown officiated. Special music included solos by JoAnn Leichtman of "In the Garden" and "Near to the Heart of God," and congregational hymns "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" and "What A Friend We Have In Jesus."

Pallbearers were Kim Johnson, Kevin Johnson, Billy Collier, Robert Collier, Richard Brown and Jared Houser. Honorary pallbearers were all of Barbara's family and close friends.

Burial was held at the Prairie Home Cemetery, New Rockford, N.D.

Barbara was born Sept. 28, 1935 in Binford, N.D., the youngest daughter to Clifford Pittenger and Florence Billet. She married Richard Ekerberg on August 4, 1956, having two daughters, Becky and Shelley and raised her two stepsons, Richard Jr. and Robert Ekerberg. She did lose two children during childbirth, a girl ("Baby") and a boy they named Craig. She will see them now in Heaven.

Later in 1978 she married the true love of her life, John Gedrose, and lived in New Rockford, N.D. and later traveled some with a camper and settled down in Albuquerque, N.M. for 16 years. This is where they both accepted the Lord, Jesus Christ as their Savior! They moved back to New Rockford in 1999 to be closer to family. She loved to share her testimony with so many. It is a true blessing to know Barbara is in Heaven and we can rejoice in seeing her again one day.

She moved to Fort White, Fla. to be with her daughter, Shelley and son-in-law, Chris Brown after her loving husband, John Gedrose passed in April of 2011. Chris built her a little cabin on their property, which she loved very much. Barbara had always loved baking cookies, homemade yeast buns and more. She also loved gardening and canning, as her and John had a nice vegetable garden and many flowers surrounding their home. She loved watching and feeding birds, needlepoint, playing cards and other games with family and friends. She also loved to send greeting cards for all occasions (becoming a lost art) and she loved receiving them too, especially the ones with photos. She also loved cats and had a couple special ones, both named "Kitty." As she became more homebound in her bed we bought her a beta fish which she named "Fishy."

She is survived by her daughter, Rochelle "Shelley" (Chris) Brown; stepson, Robert (Debbie) Ekerberg; grandchildren, Richard J. Ekerberg, Christina Baker, Randal Ekerberg, Keith Carlton, Hiliary (Jerad) Houser, Richard Brown, Allison (Toby) Crisp and Jessica Brown, Nicole Ekerberg-Pryor; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Barbara is preceded in death by her husband, John Gedrose; daughter, Becky Reiser; stepson, Richard (LaVon) Ekerberg Jr.; grandsons, David Brown and Robert A. Ekerberg; parents, Clifford Pittenger and Florence Billet; siblings, Marie Zimprich, Elaine Nauman, Lyla Sandvik and Larry Pittenger.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to: Open Door Church Ministry, 7674 Suite 102 US Hwy 27, Fort White, Fl, 32038, for their building fund.

Arrangements by Evans Funeral Home of Carrington and New Rockford, N.D.