Lydia Stratford

Lydia Stratford was born on September 4, 1918 in Stevensville, Montana. Lydia was the daughter of John and Katherine Ostwald. She was the last surviving sibling of her family—Elizabeth Klein, George Ostwald, Mary Ostwald, Martha Gibb, and Helen Moore. Lydia grew up in Laurel. She graduated from the St. Vincent School of Nursing in 1939. Lydia may have been the last surviving member of her class. After a short marriage to Edman S. Redding and a short nursing career, Lydia was married to Richard Stratford for 35 years before they divorced. They had three children—Linda, Diane, and Richard (died 1977). As a mother, she was a scout leader, camp nurse, choir mother, etc. Lydia was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ. She donated to many charities, primarily Billings Public Library and St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation where she established an endowment in her name. Her interests included reading, card games, bridge, crossword puzzles, casino games, and-bowling (member of the Billings Women Bowling Hall of Fame). Less than a month at Valley Health Care Facility and close to a month before her 97th birthday, Lydia died on August 2, 2015. She was cared for and is survived by her daughters Linda Larsen and Diane Stratford. After cremation they will scatter her ashes in the family cemetery at the High Point.