Hildegard Pauline Holy

RUPERT: On Sunday, February 16, 2025, Hildegard Pauline Holy 94 a resident of Rupert, Idaho, passed away into heaven where there are many mansions (John 14: 1-3). She was born April 30, 1930, at Hague, North Dakota to August and Anna Maria Hieb. She was number 8 of eleven children all born at home in a little house on a hill. She attended a one room schoolhouse with up to 8th grade where she learned the English language after only speaking German. They had to walk 2 miles each way to school. In 1941 the family moved to Idaho where she attended the Declo school for two years then moved to Rupert where she graduated from Rupert High School in 1948, and made many friends there, including her future husband.

After High School she started working at Coopers Drive -Inn as a Waitress and Carhop. Gene was discharged soon after from the service and started working at Workman's as an Auto Body repairman just across the street from Coopers Drive-Inn. Well, he and his co-workers came over to the Drive-Inn for their coffee breaks every day and gave her a bad time teasing her. They loved to see her blush. Coming from a small town of Hague, she was very shy and naïve. Well as nature would have it, they fell in love and courted for two years. Gene gave her an engagement ring on Christmas Eve, and they decided to elope to Elko, Nevada. That was on December 26, 1950.

They were soul mates for 72 years. On January 24, 2023, Gene passed away.

She was a wife, mother and a homemaker till her children were in High School. Then she started working at the Rupert Post Office as a substitute Rural Carrier for ten years. The job developed into full-time, retiring in 1993 after 21 years of employment.

Her home was always a joyous central gathering place for her many siblings and families. Most of them were gifted with natural talent, all playing by ear. So, there was no lack of accordion and piano music playing those good old Polkas & Waltzes. Fortunately, her parents always had this big upright "self-player "piano in the house, which inspired most of them to learn to play while growing up. Also, Lawrence Welk lived only a few miles from where they were all born. That helped inspire them to play the accordion.

The "Hieb Accordion Sisters" played for several different public functions around the country as well as locally. She and good friend Alpha Mahler on the piano also gave pleasure locally with their happy music for shut-ins at nursing homes for many years.

Surviving are their two children, daughter Shelley Holy and son Gary (Beverley) Holy. A granddaughter Sarah Hora, grandsons Travis (Gina) Jensen and Jacob Holy. One grandson Nathan Jensen 23 passed away in September 2007 from injuries in a vehicle accident. She has two great granddaughters, Janessa and Adalynn Jensen and one great grandson, Dakota Ziegler.

Deceased are her parents and four brothers, Theodore Hieb, Leonard Hieb, Arthur Hieb and Clifford Hieb. Also, three sisters. Esther Knopp, Dorthea Fetzer and Martha Reichert. Surviving are three sisters Etta (Joe) Baykara, Las Vegas, Ella Wall, Boise, and Betty Guthrie, Las Vegas. She is survived by many nieces and nephews.

She has been a faithful member of the Lutheran Church since 1954, which has been a great blessing to her. She was active as a Choir member and Dorcas's member. When their children were young and in High School she and now deceased husband, Gene, were youth counselors for 6 years, which they enjoyed so very much. This church has been her rock throughout her life. She dearly loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and now has gone home to be with him for all eternity.

Funeral services will be held as follows. Grave side services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, February 21, 2025, at the Rupert Cemetery. A Christian Memorial service will follow at 12:30 p.m. Friday February 21, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church of Rupert. There will be a luncheon following the Memorial services in the church fellowship hall.

The family request any memorial be directed to the Trinity Lutheran Church.