Julianna Frances Ridder

Julianna Francis (Kessler) Ridder passed away on Thursday Sept. 9, 2021. She was born on April

16, 1933, at the farm home of George and Frances (Berning) Kessler. She was one of eight

children. Julie attended Elementary School in Marienthal, KS and went to High School in Leoti,

KS. After graduating she worked as a nurse’s aide at St. Catherine’s Hospital in Garden City, KS.

She then went to work in a dime store until her brother entered the Navy. Julie then returned

home to help her dad with the farm.

Julie married Norman Ridder, who only lived five miles from her, on June 16, 1952, and they

had five children. They took over Norman’s father’s farm until 1964 when they sold the farm to

his brother and moved to Plains, MT where they had bought a ranch. In 1967 they sold the

ranch in Plains and moved to another ranch in St. Ignatius, MT. In 1974 they sold this ranch and

moved to ranch they had purchased on the Whitetail in Whitehall, MT. Later Norman and Julie

sold the ranch and retired.

Julie liked working in her flower and vegetable gardens, embroidery, quilting and she eventually

started her own ceramics business where she taught ceramic classes.

Preceding Julie in death were her parents, infant son Dennis, infant daughter Marjorie, son

Darrell, sisters Josephine (Roman) Droste, Antonette (Harry) Paul, Zita (Herman) Droste, and Sr.

Genevieve Kessler, ASC. She was also preceded by brother-in-laws Tom (Juanita) Dinges,

Roman (Josephine) Droste, Herman (Zita) Droste, Albert (Johanna) Biel, Jr. and Harry

(Antonette) Paul.

She is survived by her husband Norman, and children Debra (Dave) Murgel, Calvin Ridder and

Shelia Ridder. Grandchildren Elizabeth Ridder of Vista, CA, Chad Ridder and Mike (Laci) Ridder

of Butte, MT, Matt (Marilyn) Ridder of Belgrade, MT, Travis Ridder of Johnstown, CO, Caitlyn

(Bobby) Pomroy of Elko, NV, Tracy (Bo) Talalotu-Clarabal of Helena, MT, Capt. Tom Murgel of

Fort Lewis, WA, Anne Marcum of Stevensville, MT, Lee Marcum of Kentucky, Rosalie Carter of

Stevensville, MT, and her 13 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters Juanita

(Tom) Dinges and Johanna (Albert, Jr) Biel, and brother Hilary (Connie) Kessler.

Rosary will be held in the Whitehall Catholic Church Tuesday Sept. 14, 2021, at 7:30 pm.

Funeral Mass will be at the Catholic Church Wednesday Sept. 15, 2021, at 10:30 am with

internment at the Whitehall Cemetery following.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Whitehall Volunteer Fire Dept., Whitehall

Ambulance, Jefferson Valley Museum or donor’s choice.