Ida Margrethe Ford passed away early Sunday, October 12, 2025 in her home surrounded by family.

Ida was born December 4, 1940 in Stavanger, Norway, to Valdemar and Margrethe Hansteen. She grew up in Stavanger as the youngest of  six siblings. She was involved in Girl Scouts and church youth activities and had fond memories of Easter ski trips to the cabin. In her twenties, she volunteered and served throughout Europe and the United States with the social change organizations MRA and Up With People. Ida met her beloved husband, Bob, during this time and they married on October 17, 1970. They have called Anacortes, WA, home since 1978.

Ida was a homemaker and graciously welcomed into her home family and friends, new and old alike, as well as strangers who would quickly become friends. She appreciated the beauty of nature by gardening, enjoying Mt. Baker at sunset, and walking the paths of the Anacortes Community Forest Lands every morning with neighbors. Ida was an active member of the Anacortes Lutheran Church community where she faithfully served everyone from children in the nursery and preschool to the elderly through the Care Team. In recent years, she has been involved in the local Nordic Lodge sharing her gifts of hospitality and of cooking and baking Norwegian specialties.

Ida will be remembered for her generous spirit, loving hugs, competitive game playing, organizational skills, bright smile and of course her applesauce and Saturday morning waffles.

Ida is loved and missed by her husband, Bob, and her children and their families: Elisabeth, Jack, Maren and Eliot Brace,  Ingrid Ford and Jess Rush, and Grace Ford and Rachael Bonnington. Ida was loved by her siblings and their families: Valdemar Hansteen, Kikka Hansteen, Mei Mei Hoen, Christoffer Hansteen, and Hans Jacob Hansteen of Norway. She was also cherished by the Canadian Fords and all of her in-laws.

In lieu of flowers, please give gifts in memory of Ida to the Anacortes Lutheran Church Preschool or Friends of the Anacortes Community Forest Lands.

A memorial service for Ida will be held at 11:00am, November 8, 2025, Anacortes Lutheran Church.