Hilda Treichel Ochsner Wallender
CENTENARIAN | 102 YEARS
1914 - 2016

Early Life: Hilda was born on May 22, 1914, in Hebron, North Dakota, to Daniel and Mary Hensel Treichel. She was the sixth of twelve children with two older sisters, three older brothers, two young sisters and four younger brothers. She attended school in Hebron through the eighth grade. In 1928, as a young lady, she moved to Great Falls, Montana.
Life's Work | Service | Interests: In 1930, Hilda married Jacob P. "Jake" Ochsner; they raised four children. Hilda and Jake loved music. Jake played the accordion and Hilda played the guitar. She was a great harmonizer and could sing with anyone. At 102, she still remembered the words to many of the songs she learned over the years. They entertained and played at dances and on the radio during the 1930s and 1940s. She taught both of her boys to play guitar and encouraged the girls to take lessons; they learned to play the piano. She longed to learn to play the piano so she finally took piano lessons in her middle 40s along with her grandchildren and loved playing duets on the organ and the piano. She could always be found accompanying Wild Bill at all of his musical testimonials all around Montana and neighboring states and could be heard harmonizing with him as he sang. She especially enjoyed his Sunday evening sing-along he had at the Orchard Homes Country Life Club for several years. She also loved to dance to Wild Bill's music and won trophies in her 70s competing in polkas. She could go round and round with the best of them. She danced her last polka in the Wilma building in 2003, when she said at age 89. "I think I am getting too old for this." Hilda was a very faithful Christian and read her bible and bible stories every day up until the Lord called her home. She was a dedicated, longtime member of the Grace United Methodist Church and in her earlier years you would find her in the kitchen, at the Western Montana Fair booth, and at the yearly ice cream socials. Hilda was always quiet and loved watching people, especially children laughing and playing. She used to say, "I can't learn if I don't listen." She loved being in crowds of people, whether friends or strangers. She also loved reading poetry, cooking and crafts. She was known for her blue ribbon afghans, crocheted doilies and beaded doilies. She crocheted everything from doll and children clothes to table cloths and bedspreads. She loved cooking, canning and baking all of the old family German dishes and desserts. She made the best pies, rhubarb was her specialty. Hilda ran the gas station she and Jake owned on the corner of Ninth and Garfield in the late 1940s. They lived in the gas station while Jake built the house on the lot next door that she drew the plans for; they then lived there for over 60 years. After raising her children, she worked at St. Patrick Hospital and then moved over to the St. Patrick School of Nursing during the 1960s, until she retired. She loved every student she had contact with and loved her job. Hilda moved to the Springs in an apartment for a couple of years and then moved to Village Health Care at the age 99; she was there until her passing. Hilda was loved at the Village for her smile and enthusiastic hellos for everyone. She loved participating in all of the activities whether it was exercise, arts & crafts, musical events or even a field trip. If the bus was going somewhere she was going to be on it. She was very proud of her children and family was everything to her. She was very proud that she was the head of a six-generation family and each time a new generation joined, we reminded her she was just getting greater and greater; three greats in her title to be exact. Trying to write an obituary covering 102 years is impossible. Hilda Treichel Ochsner Wallender passed from this life November 4, 2016. She was 102.
Survived By: Two daughters: Evelyn Fehr and Lillian Davis; daughter-in-law, Linda Ochsner; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren and two great-great-great-grandchildren.
Preceded In Death By: Her parents; her husbands: Jake Ochsner and Arthur Wallender; both sons, Richard and William "Wild Bill" Ochsner. Hilda was the only remaining child of the Treichel family. She sorely missed her four sisters and seven brothers: Helen Hirning, Ida Hirning, Pauline Preszler, Annie Manning, Rudy, Adolph, Reinhold, Daniel, Benjamin, William and Robert.
Services: Grace United Methodist Church
Arrangements: Whitesitt Funeral Home
Graveside & Burial: Sunset Memorial Gardens
Obituary: © Missoulian | 8 November 2016

Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley