Brenda Sue Bradford

Brenda was preceded in death by her father, William Edwin Ludwig and her mother Marilyn Marie Reinke (Ludwig).

Brenda is survived by her husband Greg Bradford, daughter Shayla (Caleb) Schultz, daughter Layna (Nathan) Buis, brother Doug Ludwig, brother Scott (Carol) Ludwig, brother Brent Ludwig, her mother’s second husband Gary Reinke, and her beautiful granddaughter Vivian Rose Schultz.

Brenda was born and raised in Kalispell, Montana. She learned to play piano at an early age and continued developing her musicianship and talent for singing and songwriting throughout her life. She spent her summers living at Trinity Lutheran Camp located on the shore of Flathead Lake where her father served as the camp director for 40 years. The camp became a very special place to her and she would return many times throughout her life.

Brenda attended Trinity Lutheran School for K-8th grades, Kalispell Jr. High, and Flathead High School, graduating with honors in 1980. She attended college at Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska, graduating in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. She began her career as a preschool director in Phoenix, Arizona.

After four years of directing the preschool, Brenda left her position in 1988 to pursue her passion for music and ministry. She joined Lutheran Youth Encounter as a singer and keyboardist, landing her on a music team that spent a year touring Lutheran churches across the west coast ministering to all ages through performing songs, skits, and puppet shows. The following year, she signed up again and was placed on an international team that took her to Australia and Papua New Guinea. The experiences she had during these years of ministry were transformational for Brenda’s spiritual life and foundational for her passion to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and encourage believers in their faith journey.

In 1990, after two years of touring in vans and staying in host homes, Brenda accepted a call to become the youth director at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Saratoga, California where she ministered to youth of all ages for 5 years. A highlight of her ministry at Immanuel was having the opportunity to take her youth group on summer retreats to her beloved Trinity Lutheran Camp in Montana.

In 1992, Brenda met Greg Bradford on a blind date. After three years of dating, the two were united in marriage on August 19, 1995 in Saratoga, California.

Following the wedding, Brenda left her youth director position and returned to preschool education at Village Preschool of Saratoga in the fall of 1995.

In 1997 Brenda and Greg relocated to Colorado Springs, Colorado where they built their beautiful life together. Brenda became a stay-at-home mom while raising their two daughters. During these years, she was deeply involved in women’s and children’s ministries, often with a focus on ministry through music. She wrote, recorded and performed many worship songs for kids and adults, often with the help of her many talented friends. Brenda led many bible studies, volunteered at The Classical Academy in support of the theatre and basketball programs, nurtured many friendships, and cared for her family and home.

Upon becoming an empty nester in 2019, Brenda became a part-time preschool teacher at Springs Community Church Preschool, where she served until her passing. Brenda leveraged all her creative talents, educational skills, and passion for ministry to make an eternal impact on the lives of the kids, parents, and staff.

Words seem inadequate to express the depths of her love for her family, friends, and above all Jesus. She continually demonstrated sacrificial and unconditional love. We will miss her greatly which is a testimony to just how well she loved us all.

Although breast cancer appeared in two chapters of her story, it does not get the final word. For we rejoice in the knowledge that she is now residing in paradise in the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, fully restored and free from all pain and suffering. We also like to imagine that God honored her hope that her teeny tiny little boy Brewster, the best dog ever, was there to welcome her home, even though he was a stinker sometimes.

A celebration of life service will be held on November 15 at 1pm at Trace Church in Colorado Springs.

In honor of Brenda’s love for Trinity Lutheran Camp and to continue the Ludwig legacy in camp ministry, a Brenda (Ludwig) Bradford Legacy Fund has been set up to benefit the camp. Please use the link below or the QR code for giving memorial gifts in honor of Brenda:

https://bit.ly/BrendaLudwigBradfordCampLegacy

For people that prefer to send a check, checks can be made out to Trinity Lutheran Church with a note that it is a gift in Memory of Brenda Bradford on the memo line. Checks can be mailed to:

Trinity Lutheran Church

400 W California St.

Kalispell, MT 59901