Ida Lillie Walter Carstens, 88, lifelong resident of Animas, passed away Friday March 3, 2017 at her home in Animas.

Ida was born March 12, 1928 to Leivon Kerr and Mattie Porter Kerr just east of the old Kerr Cattle Company Headquarters. She grew up on a homestead of the Kerr Cattle Company and later moved to Lordsburg where she attended school graduating May 16, 1946. After graduation, she went to work for The Department of Public Welfare,

Ida met James Russell (Rusty) Walter at a Foot and Fiddle dance in Animas. They were married on May 3, 1947. She drove a school bus for the Animas School District for 29 years and worked in the school cafeteria for 18 of those 29 years. She was always instrumental in youth groups, the community, and the church. Ida was an excellent seamstress and was a 4-H leader for over 30 years. She always loved music, especially the fiddle, but most of all she cherished the title of "Grandma".

Rusty preceded her in death on June 19, 1995 and Ida remarried October 23, 1999 to James Carstens, who she met at a fiddle contest in Safford, Arizona. They moved to Montana where she took up quilting and eventually came back to live in Safford. They lived in Safford until they moved back to the L Bar Ranch in December, 2016. Grandma Ida loved her family, her Jesus, and always made sure that she and her family attended church.

Ida is survived by her husband, Jim Carstens, son Jim Walter and wife Jeanette, son Richard Walter and wife Nyla, daughter Beth Cox; 5 grandchildren, Johnny Russell and wife Kelly, Russell Walter and wife Taysha, Otho Cox, Monty Cox, and Dawna and husband Ryan Guevara, and 2 great grandchildren, Maddie and Jimmy.

Visitation will be Saturday morning, March 11, 2017 at 9 o'clock at the Valley View Community Church where a celebration of her life will begin at 10 o'clock. Interment will follow at the Valley View Cemetery. Officiating will be Rev. Mike Carpenter and Rev. David Goble.

Pallbearers will be Johnny Russell Walter, Russell Walter, Otho Cox, Monty Cox, Ryan Guevera, Leivon Kerr, Daniel Brown and Casey Jackson.