Alida was raised in the home of her parents in rural Barton and graduated from Barton High School in 1942.  After completing her education, she worked on the family farm.  On November 3, 1946, she was united in marriage to Earl S. Fosness at Barton.  The couple made their home on a farm they purchased near Barton.  Earl died September 20, 1968.  Following his death, Alida moved to Berwick and later to Rugby, where she has resided for the past 30 years.  Over the years, Alida worked various jobs in Rugby and provided daycare, where she was known as “Grandma Alida” to many children.  On Tuesdays, it was a tradition that she would prepare lunch for her family, so every Tuesday they would gather at her home to eat and visit.  Her grandchildren and great grandchildren brought great joy to her life and she enjoyed watching them play outside as she sat in her glider swing.  A loving wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker, Alida enjoyed sewing, quilting and crocheting.  Other pastimes were playing cards, baking buns and canning beet pickles.  She was a member of the Marker Lutheran Church until its closing, the Berwick Lutheran Church until its closing and a present member of Bethany Lutheran Church.

Alida is survived by her daughter, Kathy (Al) Brown of Rugby; sons, Leland (Julie Blessum) of Tolna and Rick of Rugby; seven grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; sisters, Irene Lehmann of Rugby and Ruth Fosness of Minot; sisters-in-law, Lorraine Welk of Rugby, Merle Ness of Towner, and Elvira Fedje of Barton; brother-in-law, Jerry Broe of Rugby; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.  She was preceded in death by her husband; infant twin boys, Kevin and Kerwin; brothers, Jenning, Kermith and Lyle Ness; sisters, Olga Larvick, Gladys Strand and Delores Broe; and her parents.