Cleone R. Williams

CLEONE RAE WILLIAMS was born on May 14, 1944 to Rae and Esther (Dornquist) Overson in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she was raised and attended school. Following her graduation from Edison High School in 1962, she attended the Lutheran Deaconess School of Nursing where she completed the program in 1965. On October 2, 1965, Cleone was united in marriage to Gary Williams in Minneapolis. After their marriage, Gary was drafted into the United States Army and the couple moved to California. During that time Cleone lived in Salinas, California and worked on Fort Ord Army Base as a head nurse. The couple moved back to Minnesota when the Vietnam War was over. On Friday, May 7, 2021, Cleone died at her home at the age of 76 years, 11 months and 23 days.

Cleone was a member of Faith Community Church in Pipestone, where she served on the decorating and service committees. She also was a member of Eden Garden Club, gave of her time to the Volunteers In Mercy Thrift Store and was a feral cat rescuer. Cleone enjoyed gardening, sewing, crocheting, knitting, needlepoint and painting. However you knew Cleone, she always made herself available to help. Her career choice of nurse and customer service, along with her hobbies of volunteering, gardening and caring for animals, Cleone spent her life caring for others and it proved to be a life well spent.

Cleone is lovingly survived by her two daughters, Cathleen (David) Everson of Tracy, Minnesota, and Rachel (Larry) Wilson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; six grandchildren, Elijah Everson, Broderick (Shelby) Everson, Luke Wilson, Ruby Wilson, Prairie Wilson, and William Wilson; one great-grandson, Colt Everson; and other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gary Williams; parents, Rae and Esther Overson; and a sister, Karen (Lynn) Thorkildson.