Iva Lenore Heggen Amdahl, 93, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 14 at Sunrise Assisted Living at Sterling Canyon in Santa Clarita. Iva was born Feb 9, 1925 in Brandon, South Dakota, and was the first child of Everett and Clara Heggen and half-sister to Lillian and she loved being outdoors, especially with her father. She attended Riverview Grade School (1st through 8th) riding two miles to school each day on her horse Babe. Iva was confirmed at Eastside Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls since they didn't have a full-time minister at Split Rock Lutheran Church near her home where the family attended church. She attended Augustana Academy for four years and graduated in 1943 with her future husband Lowell Amdahl. She was homecoming queen her senior year, a cheerleader, captain of the basketball team and on the yearbook staff. She then attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion where she received a BS in Business and was active in the Chi Omega Sorority all four years. Iva moved on from college and worked as a bookkeeper in Sioux Falls and then married Lowell on June 25, 1948. She worked in Brookings, S.D. while Lowell went to college on the GI Bill. In 1949, they were blessed with the birth of their first child, Dawn Joanne. The young family then moved to Lawrence, Kansas where Lowell worked towards his Master's Degree and Iva worked at a radio crystal company. Lowell's career started in New York City with IBM and Iva's career as a full-time mother and domestic engineer started in New Jersey. Paul Orin arrived in 1953 and Joan Elise in 1954. The family's next move was a wintertime trek to California with two of the children still in diapers. They found their dream home in Redondo Beach and fourth child Robert Reed joined the family in 1956. In 1959, the family moved to Northridge where they nested for 56 years at the same beautiful home. Iva and Lowell were very involved with First Lutheran Church of Northridge (now Lifehouse), scouts, piano lessons, ball games, dance lessons, swim lessons and much more. Iva then also returned to the work force when she had an empty nest. She started at Robinson's Department Store before taking a job at Mulhulland Jr. High School as an aide in science classes and ESL (English as a Second Language) clases. She often described her time in that job as "just loving the energy of those young teenagers!" Lowell and Iva traveled widely throughout the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia They enjoyed square dancing, bowling, and camping with friends and they made new friends wherever they went. Iva was a wonderfully strong and loving woman, mother and devoted wife. Though she will be missed, she will now be with the Lord, her beloved husband Lowell and son Robert. God will keep her in His loving arms. Iva is survived by daughter Dawn Olds of Santa Clarita and her family, daughter Joan Royer of Lake Oroville, California and her family, by son Paul Amdahl, of Monument, Colorado and his family and by Deborah Amdahl of Charlotte, North Carolina and her family. She is also survived by: Grandson Jason Olds (Karen) and their family to include Courtney Olds, Shannon Olds, Erin Green Braly, (Justin) Keller and Sawyer Bral, Katie Green Martin (Travis) Hadly, McCoy, and Maisie; Granddaughter Kristan Ezziddine (David) and their son Faris: Granddaughter Anthea Halpryn (Stuart) and their children Rebecca, J.C., Michael and Elijah: Grandsons Bryce Amdahl and Aren Amdahl: Deborah Deville amdahl Shahda (widow of Robert) and grandon Jonathan Amdahl and granddaughter Savannah Amdahl: Sisters Mila Ode (Gordon) and Mary Brue (Sanford) and brother Leo Heggen (Joanne): and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Iva was preceded in death by her parents Clara and Everett Heggen, sisters Lillian Dalyrymple (Don) and Gloria Corbett (Wendell), son Robert Amdahl and the light of her life Lowell Amdahl. A memorial service is planned for Friday, July 6, at 11 a.m. at Lifehouse Church in Northridge, CA. The family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Alzheimer's Associaton, the Lifehouse Church or any other charity of your choice.