Matilda Marie Bamrud

Matilda ("Tilli") Marie Wiens Bamrud was born in Mildred, Minnesota, on July 14, 1931, to John and Marie Wiens. She went to be with her Heavenly Father and join her beloved husband, friends and family on February 12, 2016, at the age of 84.

Tilli earned her R.N. Degree from Swedish Covenant Nursing School (now North Park University) in Chicago, Illinois. She worked as a hospital nurse until she decided to stay at home full-time to raise her three children. She later earned her Bachelor's degree from the University of Redlands, California.

As daughter of a mission-minded Mennonite Brethren pastor and fifth of six siblings, Tilli grew up on a farm in a rural country region of Northern Minnesota with wooded pines, cornfields, and lakes, and without telephone, running water or electricity until she went away to college. Times were often tough, just coming out of the Depression, Tilli learned to live with not much more than just the essentials – often giving up her room to many visiting house guests. She went off and attended Grace College of the Bible in Omaha, Nebraska for a period and then went on to nursing school in Chicago. Soon after earning her nursing degree, she drove cross-country from Chicago to California with a nursing classmate on a whim for a short-term California adventure but ended up staying for a lifetime. She landed in Santa Barbara working at Cottage Hospital and attending a semester at Westmont College but headed to the Bay Area for more excitement. There she worked at Alta Bates Hospital in the maternity section. In 1957, at Berkeley First Presbyterian Church, she met and married her husband of 51 years, Dr. Jack Dumont Bamrud, a dashing pediatric dentist. In 1962, they moved to Ventura to establish his dental practice.

Tilli was a busy mother actively engaged and involved in her children's school and extracurricular activities, as well as, church service and women's Bible studies where she developed lifelong friendships. She was a long time active member of Ventura Community Presbyterian Church. She served as a church deaconess and elder. She was also a member of the PEO Sisterhood, Chapter FZ in Ventura, where she served as Chapter Chaplain for the last year. Her favorite pastimes were garden planting, the opera and symphony concerts, walking the hillsides, and working out at the gym – all up until the week or so prior to going to Glory.

Three of Tilli’s five other siblings were lifetime missionaries abroad. Throughout the years, she made several trips to Japan, Italy and Africa to visit them. Jack and Tilli made five work team mission trips to Mali, Africa in the 90’s. Their favorite get-away and family vacations were to their second home at Mount Hermon family conference retreat center where they were part of the Advisory and then Associates ministry support team.

Above all, Tilli was an amazing prayer warrior as demonstrated to her by the example of her ever-praying father. She diligently, fervently and continuously prayed for her three children, their spouses and her grandchildren. She held a collection of intimate lifetime prayer partners who walked closely with her to the very Gates of Heaven.

Tilli is survived by her daughter, Kristina Eriksen of Santa Barbara; daughter and son-in-law, Elysia and Michael Cooke of San Diego; son and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Christina Bamrud of Ripon; grandchildren, Alissa Gibbs, Carley Cooke, Graham Cooke, Finn Bamrud, Luke Bamrud; and her younger brother and sister-in-law, James and Marty Wiens.

A Life Celebration service will be held Saturday, March 19, 2016, 2:00 P.M. at Community Presbyterian Church, 1555 Poli Street, Ventura.

Memorial donations may be made to Mount Hermon Association, P.O. Box 413, Mount Hermon, CA 95041 or Ventura Community Presbyterian Church at 1555 Poli Street, Ventura CA 93001.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. Condolences may be sent to TedMayrFuneralHome.com