Stella Bridgeford

Stella Bridgeford was born in Fargo, North Dakota on September 16, 1941, to Vincent W. Crary Sr. and Helen C. Crary, and died in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota on January 12, 2025. She grew up with eight siblings at 714 8th Street South in Fargo. She attended St. Anthony’s grade school, Shanley High School (1959), and graduated from North Dakota State University (1963) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in home economics. 

She married Kenneth Allen Johnson on June 27, 1964. They lived in Baltimore, Maryland, St. Johns, Newfoundland, Rochester, Minnesota, Fort Lewis, Washington, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, Pine Island, Minnesota, and Scottsdale, Arizona. 

Stella married Paul Bridgeford on August 14, 1993. They lived in St. Petersburg, Florida, Phoenix, Arizona, and Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. 

Stella is survived by her husband Paul; Children Helen Foltz (Detroit Lakes, MN), Gunnar Johnson (Duluth, MN), Laura Giaquinto (Phoenix, AZ) and Rosella Sparrow (Hawley, MN); sons-in-law Ken Foltz, Lou Giaquinto, and Todd Sparrow; daughter-in-law Ingrid Johnson, Claudia Poteet and Melissa Bridgeford; her brothers Vince Crary, Peter Crary, Jim Crary, Joe Crary, and David Crary, and her sisters Jane Dvonch and Helen Stassen; her grandchildren, Clem Foltz, Kathryn Foltz, Stella Foltz, Ilsa Johnson, Lily Johnson, Anthony Giaquinto, Isabella Giaquinto, Lucia Giaquinto, Cecelia Giaquinto, Tyler Sparrow, Kelsey Sparrow, and Carter Sparrow, and great-grandchildren, Itasca Foltz, Afton Foltz, and Tripp Sparrow; many other treasured relatives and friends; and her beloved rescue dog Lacey. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Marguerite Samuel, and her first husband Ken Johnson.

Stella worked at a number of jobs during her lifetime including as a test cook for Stouffer Foods, a teacher, a lifeguard, a chaplain, and a concierge, but her primary job was always as a mother and wife. 

Stella knew what she liked. She loved her time on Floyd Lake reading the newspaper, listening to Paul Harvey, and watching nature. She enjoyed connecting with family and friends. She loved her many dogs – Muffin, Molly, Pal, Sophie, Lacey – and a good walk. She liked feeding birds. She always had room for one more person at the table or a bed for a guest. She enjoyed something sweet after dinner, say 4 or 5 M & M’s. She enjoyed following companies she was interested in, investing and was surprisingly successful at picking (and holding) stocks. She found comfort and fellowship in Al-Anon.

Stella was always positive and supportive. She was a source of acceptance and unconditional friendship for many. She was never mean and tried to find good in all people. She had simple tastes and was frugal by nature. She appreciated what she had and really loved finding a good deal. 

Stella died at after a long battle with cognitive memory impairment. Through all of her struggles with dementia, she remained funny, independent, easy going, and gracious. 

Alzheimer’s caused her world to close in. She lost the ability to take long walks, read books and the newspaper, and converse with family and friends. She never forgot those that were special to her and would perk up when someone that was important to her came around even if she no longer had the ability to remember their name. One of the last names to go was Lacey, her extremely loyal rescue dog. 

Stella’s funeral will be held on Saturday, April 26th at 11:00 am at St. Mary’s of the Lakes Catholic Church in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Lunch will follow at the church. After lunch, the burial will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery in Fargo, ND. 

Memorials should be directed to Holy Rosary Catholic Church or the Boys and Girls Club, both in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. 

The family would like to thank all of her caregivers that allowed her to remain at home even while having dementia and everyone at Ecumen Nursing Home and Hospice of the Red River Valley who so lovingly cared for her at the end of her life.