Wilma Deen Long

WILMA DEEN LONG was born on July 18, 1925, to Charles Hammond and Ruth Minnie (Nuttle) Watts on a farm in Gray Township, Pipestone County, Minnesota. She was raised on the farm until 1930 when her family moved into Pipestone. She was baptized and confirmed at the Presbyterian Church in Pipestone. While a member of the Presbyterian Church, Wilma Deen was active in the church choir and taught Sunday School. She received her education at Pipestone Public Schools, graduating with the class of 1942. After high school Wilma Deen attended Eitel Hospital School of Nursing in Minneapolis, graduating in 1945 with a Registered Nursing degree. She worked as a Floor Supervisor at Eitel Hospital in Minneapolis from 1945-46, after which she began working at Ashton Memorial Hospital in Pipestone until March of 1948.

On March 21, 1948, Wilma Deen was united in marriage to Verne Everett Long at the Presbyterian Church in Pipestone. They made their home in Grange Township in Pipestone County. In 1965 Wilma Deen began working as a nurse for Dr. Robert Keyes until she retired in 1978.

She was a member of Peace United Methodist Church where she served on the Board for United Methodist Women and participated in church Circle. Wilma Deen was a member of the Current Events Club and Extension Club and served as a 4-H leader. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Calumet Chapter #51, for 67 years, first joining in 1949. Wilma Deen enjoyed reading, gardening, sewing and cooking. Most importantly, her joy came from spending time with all of her family.

Verne and Wilma Deen moved from the farm into Pipestone in September, 2013. On March 21, 2016, Wilma Deen entered the care of the Pipestone County Hospice House where she resided until she passed away on March 29, 2016, at the age of 90 years.

Wilma Deen is lovingly remembered by Verne, her husband of 68 years; children: Judy (John) Oldemeyer of Holland, Minnesota, Kathy (Grant) Lillevold of St. James, Minnesota, and Jim Long of Dallas, Texas; grandchildren: Michael Oldemeyer of Princeton, New Jersey, Karen (David) Abrahamson of Prior Lake, Minnesota, Erin (Casey) Bailey of Northfield, Minnesota, John (Nicole Oachs) Mayberry of Mankato, Minnesota, Laura (Jay) Zender of St. Peter, Minnesota, Parker Widmann, Samuel Long, Greyson Long and Sinclair Long, all of Dallas, Texas; great-grandchildren: Cole, Noah and Connor Abrahamson, Eleanor Zender, Aveya Mayberry,and two babies on the way; and other extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Wanda DeToy.