Wilma Ferne Billings, age 88, of Friendship, Wisconsin passed away peacefully on Friday, May 18, 2012 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield, Wisconsin.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at Zion Lutheran Church in Big Flats, Wisconsin. Pastor Bob Fisher will officiate. Interment will be at the Mt. Repose Cemetery, Friendship, Wisconsin.
Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at Roseberry’s Funeral Home and again on Wednesday at the Church from 9 a.m. until the time of service.
Wilma was born December 30, 1923 in Easton, Wisconsin to Herman and Lenora (Bidwell) Kurth. She went to grade school in Easton and graduated from Adams-Friendship High School. Wilma worked at her brother’s general store in Grand Marsh and at Badger Ordnance in Baraboo, Wisconsin during WWII. She married Lawrence Clifford Billings on June 5, 1948 in White Creek Congregational Church. They honeymooned in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Wilma and Lawrence were blessed with three children; Martin, Lenna and Alan.
Wilma enjoyed being a farm wife and worked side by side with her husband, Lawrence. They spent 60 years lovingly devoted to one-another. She was a devoted mother, grandma, and great-grandma as well. She was very proud of her whole family. Lawrence and Wilma built a retirement home in 1985, replacing the old original “Cotton” house they had lived in. She was her happiest when the entire family gathered there for special occasions. Wilma spent many joy-filled hours cooking, canning, cleaning, gardening and helping others. She also enjoyed traveling with family. Her favorite trips were to Alaska and Churchill, Manitoba, Canada to see polar bears.
Wilma attended Zion Lutheran Church where she played piano for many years. She was very active in the Ladies Aid at Zion spending many hours making quilts, layettes and school kits for Lutheran World Relief. Wilma was an active member of Cottonville Extension Homemaker’s Club and could often be found creating booths for the Adams County Fair. She was a dedicated leader of the Roche-A-Cri Beavers 4-H club for decades.
Through her 4-H service she spent countless hours helping many young people develop life skills.
Memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association, Zion Lutheran Church, or the American Cancer Relay for Life.
Wilma was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Lenora (Bidwell) Kurth; husband, Lawrence Clifford Billings; brothers: Harry, Clarence, Bill, and Norman; and an infant sister.
Survivors:
Son: Martin (Mary Neylon) Billings of Friendship, Wisconsin
Daughter: Lenna J. (Richard) Wood of Blackfoot, Idaho
Son: Alan L. (Patrice) Billings of Loyal, Wisconsin
Grandchild: Alyssa (Daniel) Dogs of Fredericksburg, Iowa
Grandchild: Koreena Wood of Platteville, Wisconsin
Grandchild: Alanna (Lucas) Hart of Marshfield, Wisconsin
Grandchild: Aaron Billings of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Grandchild: Ian (Gracie Bowen) Billings of Menomonie, Wisconsin
Grandchild: Andrew Keilman of Dyer, Indiana
Great-Grandchild: Keegan Hart of Marshfield, Wisconsin
Great-Grandchild: Lucy Hart of Marshfield, Wisconsin
Great-Grandchild: William Dogs of Fredericksburg, Iowa
And soon to be born great-grandchild Dogs.
Alan,
Sympathy and condolences on the loss of your mother. Thoughts and prayers for her and your family at this time
Mike Jurgensen-former classmate
Lenna, Martin , Alan and families,
My deepest sympathy on your loss. I have wonderful memories of “Mrs. Billings” as a child and having her a part of my religious education at Zion Lutheran Church. In recent years we would occasionally run into each other in town . It was always such a pleasure to do so! I’m sure Wilma will be dearly missed by many.
Sincerely, Melinda (Zemke) Brogan
To Wilma’s family. She was a wonderful woman and will truly be missed. I remember her being my 4-H leader as I was growing up and she would teach us many things about cooking in her home. Cherish the memories you have of this wonderful woman and know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
To the Billings Family: My family was so blessed to have known Wilma. Jessica & Joshua had so many good times with her and learned so much from her. Through the years I have thought about her life’s lessons through her graciousness, optimism and quiet strength. She was a true Titus 2 woman. Her life was such a true joy to so many. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Lenna and family–so sorry for your loss. Cherish your memories-there are so many with her long life. She was a wonderful farm wife and raised a beautiful family. She will be missed by many in the community. Take care, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
So sorry to hear of your loss. Glad you were with her. Lives ending, lives beginning. We didn’t really know her like the others, but by knowing her daughter, we know she must have been a truly wonderful lady. God bless you all and hold you close.
Wilma has touched so many lives in so many ways. She was a great teacher in 4-H and so many things. Her passing is a great loss to all who new her. Wilma was a great lady.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Your mom was a wonderful ady. Will always remember her wonderful baking, especally at Christmas time.
Sorry to hear of your MOM’s death. She was a special lady My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Martin…. Words cannot express my sympathy and condolences. Your mom was such an awesome lady. Know that she will always be with you in your heart and memory. She will be there in the quiet of a moment, the beauty of a flower, and the gentle breeze on a sunny morning. She will be looking down from our most glorious heavens and smiling her beautiful smile. She is now with your Dad again. She has earned her Golden Wings.
Lenna and Family,
You have my deepest sympathy. I am grateful you were able to be with her on her last days. May God be with you and grant you peace.
My deepest sympathy is extended to the entire family. I will always have fond memories of the many hours spent on the Billings farm through 4-H, swimming, visiting and homemakers. My family has been blessed with the best neighbors in the world. Wilma will be dearly missed. May God bless you in your hour of sorrow.
So sorry for your loss. God be with you now and always.
Martin, Mary, and the entire Billings family: How saddened I was to learn of your mother’s death. What a remarkable woman she was, strong and full of grace. Her presence at the “head” of our neighborhood will be sorely missed. Our sympathy and prayers are with you. Blessings and peace, Susan and Jim
Marty, Alan, Lenna – and your families – Heartfelt condolences on your loss. Your mother was an amazing person and touched lives more than she ever knew. She will be missed enormously.
Martin, Mary & Andrew………
Thoughts and prayers to you and your family.
Martin, Mary & Andrew……
Thoughts and prayers to you and all your family.
How blessed you’ve been to have had such a wonderful mother! She will be treasured for generations as all she has taught will be passed on to one generation after the next. You are in our prayers.
May God, family and friends comfort you. Wilma was a wonderful lady.
Sorry to hear of Wilma’s passing….she was a lovely lady and will be missed.
Wilma was an active and willing community leader. She was involved in the local 4-H program for many years and taught countless young folks skills and values they will long remember. What a wonderful legacy! She will be greatly missed and remembered with love. May God bless her family.
I remember Wilma with a lot of good memories. She was our neighbor, our 4-H leader, and one of the pillars of our small cottonwood community. I especially remember when, as a young boy, we had “community threshings”, where the whole Cottonville group of farmers would go from farm to farm to perform the threshing, and the ladies would put on a tremendous lunch for all the workers. My mother was part of the community homemakers group. She was a nice, wonderful lady!
Martin, Mary and Families,
So sorry to hear about your mom. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Alan Lenna Martin My heart goes out to you all. You are in my prayers.
Our most sincere symapathy to all the Billings family. Such a wonderful and proud lady, organized to perfection. She will be missed by those that knew her. God Bless! Bob and Aletta
Deepest Sympathy for your loss. Such a special lady.
Lenna & Family, Thoughts & prayers are with you & family, at this time.
Martin—Sorry for your loss. Your mother was a wonderful lady. The whole county will miss her.