Hildred Nola (Salem) Christiansen, 87 of Spearfish SD, died December 25, 2010 at Spearfish Regional Hospital.
A memorial service will be held December 29, 2010, 1:00 pm, at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels in Spearfish with the Rev. Harold Salem officiating.. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with "A New Song" The Christian Worship Hour P.O. Box 2002 Aberdeen, SD 57402-2002.
Hildred was born August 9, 1923 to Said and Anna (Heebner) Salem of Belle Fourche, SD. Hildred graduated from Belle Fourche High School in 1941 and began her career as a nurse in 1942, graduating from Colorado Training School for Nursing at Denver General Hospital in Denver, CO. Upon graduating, Hildred joined the Army Nursing Corps as an officer and served during World War II at Colorado Springs, CO. After completing her service she returned home where she worked on the staff at John Burns Memorial Hospital in Belle Fourche. She married Maurice "Buzz" Heimbaugh in 1947 and began raising her family. Hildred moved to Sheridan WY in 1958 where she continued her work as a psychiatric nurse at the V.A. hospital. She retired from the V.A. in 1990 and returned to Spearfish where she resided until her death.
One of Hildred's fondest memories was a trip she and her brother Jack took to the Middle East. They visited their father's home and birth place in La La, Bakaa Valley Lebanon. Her father and uncle, Said and Mike Salem came to America from Lebanon in the early 1900's where they established themselves in Harding County, SD. They enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War I, serving with the occupation forces in Germany. They returned to South Dakota where they took up ranching sheep. Hildred would recount visiting with their father's relatives, learning of his history and life growing up in Lebanon.
Among her many passions was playing bridge which she learned at an early age. Throughout her life, being involved with bridge and bridge clubs was a time of joy, sharing her love of the game with many of her lifelong friends.
On these shores we bid farewell as her vessel takes her into the distance, carrying her on a new voyage. On a far distant shore, others await her arrival in love and anticipation.
She is survived by her brother Jack Salem, Palm Desert, CA and sister Carole Ivanich, Belle Fourche, and children; John and Carol Heimbaugh, Spearfish, Pam and Jim Oleson, Fairbanks, AK, Tina Martoglio, Big Horn, WY and Cass and Mona Heimbaugh, Belle Fourche. She is preceded in death by her son Troy Heimbaugh and grandson Mathew Oleson. Hildred was grandmother to nine grandchildren and great grandmother to eleven great grandchildren.
Arrangements are with Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com.