Bertilia Lyn Redfern, 53, died Tuesday, March 10, 2009 as a result of injuries sustained in a tragic motor vehicle collision. She was not at fault.
Bert was born on April 13, 1955 to Frances G. and J. I. (Irv) Baldwin in Puyallup, Washington. In 1958 she moved with her parents and older brother to Boise, Idaho where she grew up and attended Sacred Heart and St. Mary's grade schools as well as Bishop Kelly and Boise High Schools.
Three days after graduation in 1973 she eloped with the love of her life, Bob Redfern and they embarked on a 36-year adventure. They have fallen even more in love as the years have gone by. Few people are as blessed as Bob and Bert to have fallen in love again, several times, with the same person.
They have lived all over the Magic Valley, for a while near Seattle, Washington, and for the last few years in Hailey. Bert's working career was wide and varied. She worked for a dentist, Idaho Power Company, Clear Springs Trout Farm, the Buhl Herald newspaper, banks, hospitals, doctors, and lawyers. She had recently taken a position with The Roark Law Office in Hailey that she hoped would carry her into retirement.
Bert was well known in South Central Idaho and in many other areas of the country for her environmental activism. She was a past chairman of the Sierra Club Northern Rockies Chapter Confined Animal Feeding Operation Accountability Project and a member of The Sierra Club National Clean Water Committee. Bert received an award for Grassroots Leader of the Year for 2003 from United Vision for Idaho.
Bert had a passion for snow, sunshine, good wine, music, animals, friends and, of course, Bob. She was an avid skier and skied Mt. Baldy with her husband and friends as often as she could, usually twice a weekend. That is why they lived in Hailey. Ski season weekends were always busy at the Redfern house. She also enjoyed camping and vacations and visiting with her many friends.
Bert had a knack for keeping life-long friendships and several go back to early grade school. She got the most out of life.
Bert is survived by her husband Bob; her mother Frances Baldwin of Boise; her brother Iry Baldwin and his wife Betsy Hill; her father-in-law Clifford Redfern; and scores of friends and relatives who will miss her deeply. She was preceded in death by her father and by her mother-in-law Evelyn Redfern.
At Bert's request, no services will be held. A gathering of friends and family to celebrate her life will be held later this spring. For those who wish to make a contribution in Bert's memory, please consider the Advocates for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault or the Animal Shelter of The Wood River Valley, both in Halley, Idaho.
