Funeral services: Thursday March 6, 2008 at 2:00pm at St. Josephs Catholic Church in Hysham, MT.
Burial: will follow in the Rancher Cemetery in Myers, MT.
In the early morning hours of March 3rd, a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend was met by angels to escort her to heaven.
Wilma Eldering lived an amazing life which began in the horse and buggy days and ended in the age of internet and cutting edge technology. Wilma was the last born child of Edward and Judith Hay Kimball. She was born May 20, 1907 in Centralia, Kansas. In 1912 the family moved from Centralia to the productive farm land in the Yellowstone River Valley at Hysham, Montana. She attended school in Hysham and graduated in 1925. Education was very important to her family and many sacrifices were made to enable a college education. Wilma attended college in Dillon and graduated with a teaching degree. She taught school in Sanders, Custer and Hysham and later became the Treasure County Superintendent of Schools. Wilma married Herman Eldering on March 22, 1933. She loved to tell stories of how she and Herman danced across Eastern Montana. They farmed and ranched in the Pease Bottom area on the Eldering ranch. They were blessed with two wonderful daughters, Shirley Redland and Marion Nahulu. Her daughter Shirley continues to operate the family ranch with her children. Wilmas wonderful life is difficult to describe in a few short paragraphs. She lived an amazing 100 years. She greeted each day with excitement and energy. She and Herman worked together on the family ranch and when Shirley and her husband Ole came to manage the ranch, she and Herman traveled regularly to see their daughter Marion in Hawaii. She was involved in most all functions in the Hysham/Rancher community. When she was younger she and her brothers had their own band which traveled to area dances. She was a gifted piano player mainly playing by ear. Friendly Garden Club, Womens Club, Canasta Birthday Club, Treasurebelles and Hysham Community Senior Citizens were blessed with her attendance. She was a regular Sunday School teacher at the Rancher Presbyterian Church and later the Hysham Community Presbyterian Church. One might ask, what will she most be remembered for? Her love of family and absolutely remarkable tea parties. She collected tea cups and no one was allowed to leave her home without a tea party. She could bring any story to life with just the little sparkle in her eye. Even as age creeped up on her, her youthful energy persisted. Wilma is now creating new songs and stories with her family in heaven and we are certain that there is an elaborate tea party taking place!Wilma was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 50 years Herman Eldering, her brothers, Burl, Carroll, Glen, and Ray Kimball, her sisters, Nola Kimball Wright, Gladys Kimball Sweetser, her daughter Marion Eldering Nahulu, her son-in-law Ole Redland, her granddaughter in-law Monica Redland as well as her life long friend Rebecca Grierson Almond.
She is survived by her daughter Shirley Redland of Hysham, Montana, grandchildren, Bob (Kathy) Redland, Ruth (Al) Baue, Elaine (Gordon) Arneson all of Hysham and Rene (Steve) Kirsch of Kamuela, HI, 8 great grandchildren, 1 great-great granddaughter as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
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