HUNGERFORD, Wilma Jean (Nath) 1928-2014

HUNGERFORD, HORSTRMAN, NATH

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 6/11/2014 at 19:34:37

Wilma Jean Hungerford

(Died June 10, 2014)

Wilma Jean Hungerford, age 85, of Osage, died Tuesday, June 10, 2014, at the Faith Lutheran Home in Osage.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 14, 2014, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Osage with Rev. Roy Ott officiating. Burial will be in the Osage Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage.

Wilma was born July 11, 1928, at Faribault, Minnesota, the daughter of George and Elsie (Horstman) Nath.

She was raised in the Riceville area and graduated from Riceville High School in 1947. Wilma married

Rollin Bechtum and they moved to Osage in 1957. Rollin died in 1965. On October 4, 1969, Wilma married John “Jim” Hungerford in Osage. Jim died in 2005. Wilma was employed at the Home Savings and Loan, which became a branch bank, and retired from Pioneer Federal Savings and Loan Bank at age 65.

Wilma is survived by her son, Loren (Barb) Bechtum of Stoddard, Wisconsin; four grandchildren, Sarah (Rick Fuss) Bechtum and Amy (Mike Keranen) Bechtum, all of Denver, Colorado, Amanda (Nicholas) Roush and Levi (Holly) Bechtum, all of La Crosse, Wisconsin.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Rollin Bechtum and John “Jim” Hungerford; an infant sister, Maxine and an infant brother, Robert; two grandsons, Matthew and Andrew Bechtum.

Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home (641)732-3706

The following was written by Wilma’s son, Loren Bechtum –

My Mother Wilma Hungerford passed away on Tuesday June 10 at 11:05 a.m.

We have a loving God and He gave his only son to die for our sins.
Therefore we live in comfort knowing that at 11:05 a.m. on that day she was at peace.

On Tuesday June 10, 2014 at 11:05 a.m.;
She smiled at my Father, Rollin Bechtum,
She rubbed Jim’s bald head,
She hugged our two infant sons, Andy and Matt,
She greeted my Grandparents Elsie and Cecil Goodbrand,
She was glad to be with her Father George Nath and his Wife Bernice,
She clutched her sibling who passed away as young children,
She missed them a great deal as she became older.

All those she loved who have passed before her, greeted her at the “Pearly Gates”. This I believe and I am therefore at peace because she is at peace. She was ready.

My Mom was many things. She was tough and direct to a fault in many situations. She sometimes remembered things different than they were. But this is what strikes me most about my mom.

My Dad liked to carry on and have a good time, and Mom went along with that. He hunted and fished. He liked eating what he bagged… and Mom went along with that. Dad died in a car crash and she later married Jim Hungerford.

I have heard rumors that Jim had a rowdy past but I always knew him as reserved and generous… and Mom went along with that. He wanted to dig in the dirt, can vegetables and meat… so Mom went along with that.

Mom’s knee started acting up and the doctor said… oh just kind of favor it and you will get used to it… Mom went along with that.

Two years ago Mom got an infection and we moved her to assisted living. She did not want to be there… but… Mom went along with that.

In January she learned that she would need cancer treatments. She did not want them… but Mom went along with that.

Mom did not approve of wild living. She hated being sweaty and dirty, she disdained wild game. She preferred to get her vegetables from the store. She just wanted to be left alone to live out her life.

She had a tough public persona but a soft middle that she exposed to only a select few. Sometimes she said it the way it was and sometimes she said what she thought you wanted to hear.

She did not want to go yet but in the end… she went along with that.

She was my Mom and whatever else she was… I go along with that.

Wilma Hungerford:

Daughter

Wife

Mother

Grandmother

Friend

July 11, 1928 to June 10, 2014

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