Remembering Bette Ide
Dr. Bette Ide, retired professor of Nursing, formerly of Grand Forks, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 1, in Lompoc, Calif. She was 77. 
Bette Ann Ide was born Oct. 30, 1936, in New Lisbon, Wisc., to Fred and Antoinette Rabuck. Dr. Ide dedicated over 50 years of her life to the field of nursing, and was an accomplished teacher and researcher. She earned a diploma of Nursing in 1957 from Milwaukee County Hospital School of Nursing, a master’s degree in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin in 1972, a master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Arizona in 1974, and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Arizona in 1979. Bette’s professional nursing experiences took place in a diverse variety of locations, including Wisconsin, Louisiana, Saudi Arabia, Arizona, Wyoming and finally the University of North Dakota in 1998, where she was first hired as an Associate Professor at the College of Nursing. In addition, she served the College of Nursing as an Associate Dean of Research. Dr. Ide became a tenured, full-time Professor of Nursing at UND in 2000.
Bette was a dedicated researcher and innovative educator who worked tirelessly to advance and improve nursing practice for American Indians and other vulnerable groups on the Northern Plains. Dr. Ide’s commitment to gerontological nursing and to rural health extended over 25 years, including as President of the Rural Nurse Association. In developing the basis for interventions with various elderly clients, Bette created and/or validated a number of instruments for these diverse populations. Bette’s research, primarily funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), produced promising data identifying culturally sensitive health care solutions for vulnerable populations on the Northern Plains. Her cross-cultural research work has resulted in over 134 citations in books and research journals. Dr. Ide had a long history of participation in professional organizations and willingly served on committees and work groups in support of her profession.
Dr. Ide’s work with communities to identify and respond to the needs of the elderly and rural members of our society was well-known and recognized. For her impressive multidisciplinary research efforts, Bette was the recipient of many awards and honors throughout her career. In 2010, she was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, the highest honor given to a nurse. Dr. Ide also was an outstanding educator and mentor to the many doctoral and master’s students whom she advised regarding their theses and dissertations. She retired as a Professor in the College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines at the University of North Dakota in 2012 and moved to Lompoc, Calif., to live near her daughters.
Dr. Ide was very knowledgeable and well-read and shared her considerable real-world wisdom with her professional colleagues and the students she taught and/or advised. Bette’s colleagues greatly enjoyed knowing her and working with her and will greatly miss her. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and regularly participated in choir events at St. Michael’s Catholic Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey. Bette is survived by her daughter Jodie Carlisle of Lompoc, her daughter Karen Ide of Lompoc, her son Daniel Ide of Tucson, Arizona, three grandchildren, two sisters and one brother.
— With information courtesy of Liz Tyree and Glenda Lindseth, College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines.
