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Harriet L. Bridgeford

1918 - 2009

Harriet L. Bridgeford
1918 - 2009

Harriet L. Bridgeford, 90, of Garner, formerly Mason City, died on Thursday, December 17, 2009, at the Concord Care Center in Garner, She had been a resident there since July 2008.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, December 19, at the First United Methodist Church Wayside Chapel, with the Rev. Jim Stiles officiating. Interment was in the Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery. The Major Erickson Funeral Home of Mason City, was in charge of the arrangements.

Harriet L. Gibbs, was born on January 29, 1918, the daughter of Harry and Esther (Lenz) Gibbs on their family farm southeast of Klemme. She attended and graduated from the Klemme Schools and later received advanced clerical instruction and graduated from the Hamilton Business College. Harriet began her working years at Locke Photo in Mason City. She was later employed at Stoyles Printing as an office manager and bookkeeper. She enjoyed the many people she worked with and met over the years in downtown Mason City.

She married Virgil Bridgeford on June 2, 1945 and they made their home in Mason City. Virgil passed away on November 16, 1998.

As a youth Harriet received a very crippling injury that left her with pain and a partial disability throughout her life. She never mentioned it or thought of herself as being set back by it in any way. Harriet was a very friendly, caring and industrious person. She enjoyed baking cookies for nieces, nephews and friends, gardening,, fishing and traveling. She and Virgil enjoyed vacationing around the country and Canada, and fishing on Clear Lake. Harriet was a long-time member of the First United Methodist Church and women's clubs.

She is survived by her sister, Isabelle Gibbs of Mason City; sister-in-law, Hazel "Toots" Ellingson and her husband, Merle of Clear Lake; brother-in-law, Richard Bridgeford of Mason City; nieces and nephews, Ronna (Jerry) Meyers of Garner and Lora (Lester) Ward of Lansing, Illinois, Joe (Kathy) Gibbs of Garner, Debbie (Bob) Riecherts of Minneapolis; David (Cheryl) Ellingson of Indianola, Mark (Lori) Ellingson of Mason City, Julie (Neal) Pals of Clear Lake; and several great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Virgil; her parents; two brothers, Asa and Ronald; and sisters-in-law, Jane Bridgeford, Lois Gibbs, Fay Gibbs and Dewie Gibbs.


source: Mason City Globe Gazette, 6 Jan 2010

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