Barbara Gedrose, age 89 of Fort White, FL (previously, New Rockford, ND) went to be with the Lord on Tuesday morning, January 21, 2025 at the Lake Montgomery Rehabilitation & Nursing Facility in Lake City, FL.

Barbara was born September 28, 1935 in Binford, ND, the youngest daughter to Clifford Pittenger and Florence Billet. She married Richard Ekerberg on August 4, 1956, having 2 daughters, Becky and Shelley and raised her 2 step sons, Richard Jr. and Robert Ekerberg. She did lose 2 children during childbirth, a girl (‘Baby’) and a boy they named Craig. She will see them now in Heaven.

Later in 1978 she married the true love of her life, John Gedrose and lived in New Rockford, ND and later traveled some with a camper and settled down in Albuquerque, New Mexico for 16 years.  This is where they both accepted the Lord, Jesus Christ as their Savior! They moved back to New Rockford in 1999 to be closer to family. She loved to share her testimony with so many. It is a true blessing to know Barbara is in Heaven and we can rejoice in seeing her again one day.

She moved to Fort White, Florida to be with her daughter, Shelley and son-in-law, Chris Brown after her loving husband, John Gedrose passed in April of 2011. Chris built her a little cabin on their property, which she loved very much. Barbara has always loved baking cookies, homemade yeast buns and more. She also loved to garden and canning, as her and John had a nice vegetable garden and many flowers surrounding their home. She loved watching and feeding birds, needle point, playing cards and other games with family and friends.  She also loved to send greeting cards for all occasions (becoming a lost art) and she loved receiving them too, especially the ones with photos. She also loved cats and had a couple special ones, both named “Kitty”. As she became more homebound in her bed we bought her a beta fish which she named “Fishy”.

She is survived by her daughter, Rochelle “Shelley” (Chris) Brown; step-son, Robert (Debbie) Ekerberg; grandchildren, Richard J. Ekerberg, Christina Baker, Randal Ekerberg, Keith Carlton, Hiliary (Jerad) Houser, Richard Brown, Allison (Toby) Crisp and Jessica Brown, Nicole Ekerberg-Pryor; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Barbara is preceded in death by her husband, John Gedrose; daughter, Becky Reiser; step son, Richard (LaVon) Ekerberg Jr.; grandsons, David Brown and Robert A. Ekerberg; parents, Clifford Pittenger and Florence Billet; siblings, Marie Zimprich, Elaine Nauman, Lyla Sandvik and Larry Pittenger.

 

Barbara’s Visitation will be Friday, January 31, 2025 from 1:00PM – 2:00PM followed by a Funeral Service at 2:00PM all at Evans Funeral Home, New Rockford.

Her Burial will be at the Prairie Home Cemetery, New Rockford.