Ella Mae Patterson Hilverda, 97, passed away peacefully in her home in Twin Falls on Sunday March 17, 2013.

Ella was born January 2, 1916, to James and Jennie Patterson in Carey, Idaho. She spent her early years in Carey attending school and having many adventures with her siblings and extended family. When she was eleven she traveled alone to Salt Lake City where she spent four months in Primary Children's Hospital due to a disease in her bones. She had many stories to tell about her stay there. Ella graduated from Carey High School in 1934. Her dream was to become a teacher, and she convinced her father to borrow $50 for her to attend Albion Normal School. After graduation, she spent her early years teaching in Almo, Carey, and Ketchum. She was a teacher, counselor, principal, psychologist and administrator for fifty-four years in the state of Idaho. Most of those years were spent in the Kimberly School District with one year at Twin Falls High School. She retired from the Kimberly School District twice, the last time in 1992. She is well-known and much recognized for her contributions in education and her influence on young people.

While she was teaching in Ketchum, she spent her summers working in Sun Valley. It was during this time that she met a "handsome Dutchman", Andrew Hilverda. Ella and Andrew were married on December 20, 1941. They had two sons, Jim and Andy. In the early years of their marriage they lived in Ketchum, Glendale, California, and briefly in Richfield and Filer. They then settled in Kimberly where they raised their sons. Ella had a zest for life and loved being active. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, fishing, traveling, and was a master of crocheting. After Andrew's death in 1980, she spent much of her time with her dear friends in the "Wild Bunch", visiting her beloved family, and going on numerous cruises.

Ella is survived by her sons, Jim (Bonnie) Hilverda of Twin Falls and Andy (Pat) Hilverda of Aumesville, Oregon, seven grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Andy, her parents, her three sisters, and eight brothers.

The family would like to thank the caregivers from Idaho Home Health and Hospice for their loving care of Mom, in particular Grace, Susan, Donna, Cindy, and Robert.

The funeral will be held at 11:00 AM., Friday March 22, 2013, in the LDS Chapel on Hankins Road in Twin Falls.

Arrangements are under the care of Parke's Funeral Home of Twin Falls.