Barbara R. Church

Barbara (Ginger) Ruth George Church, 81, of Twin Falls, Idaho passed away on April 2, 2020 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Twin Falls, Idaho due to complications of COPD. Ginger was born in Linn County, Iowa on March 18, 1939. She was raised on a farm and enjoyed growing up surrounded by extended family. Her parents were Joseph and Mae (Weldon) George. She had one brother, Joseph, and three sisters, Julia (Judy), Patricia (Patty) and Dorothy, who died at the age of 4 from childhood leukemia. Ginger graduated from St. Patrick’s High School of Cedar Rapids Iowa in 1957 at the top of her class. Ginger met the love of her life, Ronald Clark Church while working at an Eagle’s grocery store during high school. It was the way he treated people that stole her heart. After Ron’s service in the Marines and her studying at Mt. Mercy College, they married on October 28, 1961 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They started their adventurous life by living and working all over the country in the retail industry of first Woolworths and then Ben Franklin. They didn’t travel unless they were moving. They lived in Phoenix, Arizona; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Marion, Iowa; Burlington, Iowa; Des Moines, Iowa; Brainerd, Minnesota; Rice Lake, Wisconsin; Iron River, Michigan; Stambaugh, Michigan; Onalaska, Wisconsin; Olivia, Minnesota; Montevideo, Minnesota; Hailey, Idaho; and finally in Twin Falls, Idaho. It was a beautiful way to grow up. Ginger spent most of her life as a wonderful wife and mother to eight children. She valued her Catholic Faith, hard work, problem solving, discussing world issues, puzzles, games, and sports. She watched every sport and was a fine athlete herself. Most recently, she loved to play golf. She spent years working along her husband’s side in the retail business and retired in Hailey, Idaho. After retirement she went to work in the Idaho school systems working in Wood River and then Harrison Elementary. Ginger enjoyed spending time with family, gardening, horseback riding, and reading, discussing and learning about everything. She also enjoyed giving people a hard time with her dry, quick wit, and she could never be seen without a cup of tea. Ginger is survived by her family: Husband: Ron Church (Twin Falls, ID), Children: Joe Church and Micki Gilmer, (Mound, MN) Michelle and Gary Higginbotham (Twin Falls) Julia Church (Bird Island, MN) Matthew and Jodi Church (Jordan, MN) Kevin Church (Twin Falls) Dan Church (Olivia, MN) Rhonda Church-Ehrmantraut and Ace Ehrmantraut (Twin Falls) and Andrew Church (Ketchum, ID) Grandchildren: Nigel and Hailey Higginbotham, Derek Higginbotham, Ian and Brittany Higginbotham, Samantha Church, Ryan Church, Scott Rauenhorst, Tyler Church and Kjersten Church, Jared Church, McKenzee Church, Isaiah Church, Indie Jule Ehrmantraut, Courtney and Kindra Ehrmantraut. Great Grandchildren: Vincent, Lilly-ann, and Penelope Higginbotham., twins: James and Peder Church, and Chloe and Josiah Ehrmantraut. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Mae George, her sister, Dorothy, her brother, Joseph, and her brothers-in-law, Gary Hardman and Clay Chalupsky. Her spirit remains alive in all who loved her.