Ethel Julia Woodford

Ethel Julia (Schmidt) Woodford, 91, passed away at the Beehive Assisted Living facility in Conrad Montana on Good Friday, April 18, 2025. Easter was one of her favorite holidays, making it a special end to this loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Ethel moved to the Beehive from her longtime home in Missoula, MT, in August, 2022 to be closer to her daughter, Kathleen.

Ethel was born on her family farm February 15, 1934 in Grant County, ND, the middle child of Herman Christian Schmidt and Mary Lulu (Uhrig) Schmidt. The family was raised on the farm and then when she was older, they opened Mary’s Café in Morristown. She went to high school in McIntosh, SD and attended business school in Aberdeen, SD. This is where she met her life-long partner, Orville Woodford. They were married in Aberdeen in 1957 and then moved to Deadwood, SD where their two sons, Brad and Miles were born. They moved to Missoula in 1960 and welcomed their third child, Kathleen.

Ethel babysat neighbor’s children before starting work at K-Mart where she managed the Infants department, working there for 15 years. She loved babies and enjoyed gardening, cross-stitch, cooking, baking and raising her children and grandchildren. Their home on Saranac was the center of family activities with many BBQ’s on the back deck, dinners, and holidays. She also enjoyed going on outings with Orville, mostly fishing and camping. They were ardent fans and supporters of their children and grandchildren’s sports and activities. And were active members in the Grace United Methodist Church.

Ethel is survived by her children, Brad (Jan) Woodford and their children, Riley (Alisha) and Cole (Patti Prison), Kennewick, WA; Kathleen Woodford (Gus Chambers), Conrad, MT and her children, Mariah (Nathan Brown), Missoula, and Nick (Signe) Turnbull, Jacksonville, FL; and Miles’ children, Roberta (Jeff) Woodford-Ryan and their children, Savannah and Dylan, Missoula; Racquel (Josh) Woodford-Fowler and their son, Rhett, Vaughn, MT; Maria (Mitch) Woodford-Mitchell and their children, Darren and Ariana; and Miles Jr. (Hannah) Woodford and their children, Ryleigh and Miles III. She also leaves behind several nieces and nephews.

Ethel is preceded in death by her husband, Orville; her son, Miles; her parents; many cousins; and her brother, Allen Schmidt and sister, Bertha Schmidt. Ethel will be laid to rest at the Sunset Memorial Gardens in Missoula with a family graveside burial. Information and condolences may be shared at www.sunsetfuneralhomecemetery.com. The family would like to thank the Beehive staff for all their love and care in Ethel’s final years.