Wilma Fisher DeLand Obituary (1919 - 2016)

Wilma Fisher DeLand was born in Annis, Idaho (Jefferson County) to Albert Martin Fisher and Martha Alice Harrop Fisher on their ranch in the same bedroom as her six sisters and one brother. She was raised doing the same work as the ranch hands and could milk cows, pick potatoes, thin beets, haul hay, sheer sheep, and any other job that needed to be done. She skipped the second grade and at 18 was elected Jefferson County Rodeo Queen. She met her husband, Walter Ernest DeLand, when they were partners in a "Gold and Green Ball" floorshow in 1938. They were married June 7, 1939, and their marriage was solemnized the following year in the Salt Lake Temple. They moved to Magna, Utah where she celebrated her first wedding anniversary in the old St. Mark's Hospital in SLC giving birth to their first child, Gary. She returned to Idaho the following year to give birth to Gae Lyn. They were living in Washington when World War II began, and Walt was drafted and joined the Navy. During the war they lived in California and Idaho where he designed and built obstacle courses. Wilma returned to her parent's ranch when she was pregnant with her third child. Loni was probably her only "wanted pregnancy", as his birth gave Walt enough "points" to be discharged from the service. She was in the Rigby Maternity Home on VJ Day when she heard everyone in the street yelling and banging on pots and pans as Rigby celebrated the end of the war with Japan. After Walt's discharge they returned to Idaho, living in Idaho Falls, St. Anthony, and Rigby where Lisa was born. She moved to Salt Lake City in 1953 where they spent the rest of their married life. In the summer of 1953 Walt moved to Salt Lake City when he became the athletic trainer for the University of Utah. She stayed in Idaho to sell their home and waited for the birth of daughter, Lisa, who was born October 4th. The house sold in December, and she had to move the week before Christmas. When Walter became athletic trainer, the University of Utah football team always played the Utah State football team on Thanksgiving Day for the Utah Boot; and the basketball team held a Christmas Classic Tournament between Christmas and New Years'. When he found out the "athletes of color" who lived out-of-state spent the holidays in the dorms eating in the cafeteria, he put up notices stating any athlete who had nowhere to go on the holidays was invited to his home for dinner and to watch the games. She never knew how many athletes would end up at their house for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. She cooked them many meals, mended their clothes, tended their babies so they could go on a date with their wives, and helped in many other ways. To this day, several of the athletes visited with her when they came to Salt Lake. Wilma was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints working as a primary teacher (the only one who could maintain control of the Blazers), President of the Primary, a visiting teacher (to the day she died), and secretary of the Relief Society in several different wards. At 92 when she was in the hospital and rehab twice for six or seven weeks with broken legs, she completed her visiting teaching by telephone. She came from a rich pioneer heritage with family joining the church in Europe and New York, following Joseph Smith until his death and then traveling with Brigham Young and the saints to SLC. One branch of the family was sent from SLC to rescue members of the Martin Hancock handcart group which included ancestors from another family line. Wilma was a beautiful and gracious lady. She was a spotless housekeeper and always had her makeup on, her hair combed, and beautifully dressed as soon as she was awake. She led by example, especially giving service to others. When Gae Lyn went to college in Hawaii, any friends' parents who were going to Utah were invited to "stay with her parents"!! Her home was more like a hotel during those years. She worked in sales and as a department manager for J.C. Penny in the Rigby and Sugarhouse stores and in sales, as a buyer and assistant manager of La Ries in the Cottonwood Mall. When Wilma and Walt opened the Walt DeLand Nutrition Center she was the store manager and also worked as a manager when the store was purchased by Skaggs Corporation. When they left Skaggs, they opened the DeLand Family Nutrition store which was managed by daughter, Lisa. When Lisa died October 13, 1980, Wilma managed the store until Walt got cancer in 1981 and died January 9, 1982. Wilma loved traveling (visiting many states, Canada, Mexico and three trips to Europe). She went to Hawaii 21 times with Walt, and after his death spent many winters in Hawaii with her sister, DeOnne. She always managed to attend her children's sporting events and other activities. She enjoyed golfing and bowling. She loved all of the University of Utah sports, especially football and basketball, where she was named "Wilma DeLand Super Fan". In her journals she listed each player's name, number and position and posted the game's scores. On her 92nd birthday members of the U of U football and basketball teams presented her with a football signed by the 2008 Sugar Bowl football team and a basketball signed by the current U of U basketball team. Up until the day she passed away she never missed watching a University football or basketball game. Friends and neighbors always knew when the "Utes" were playing, as Wilma always put her red "U" in the window and dressed in red from head-to-toe the entire day. When the new Spence and Cleon Eccles Football Center was built and dedicated on August 15, 2013, the trainer's office was named the Walt and Wilma DeLand Athletic Training Room. She was also an avid Jazz fan, watching all of their games. Wilma and Walt raised their family in Sugarhouse in the Crystal Heights Ward and then built a beautiful home near the canyons in the Winder 8th Ward. After living in the home for a number of years after Walt died, she moved to Esprit Condominiums. When she was 92, she sold her condo and moved to the Olympus Ranch Independent living Center in Murray, Utah. She really enjoyed the last five years living in the beautiful facility where she loved the many new friends she made among the residents, staff, and management. She is survived by her children: Gary Walter DeLand (Kathy), Gae Lyn DeLand, and Loni Fisher DeLand (Denise Austin); 14 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great- grandchildren; sisters: DeOnne Fisher (SLC), Martha Dean Brown (St. Anthony, ID), and Marlene Cooper (Idaho Falls, ID); special cousin, Melva Mae Searle; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and daughter, Lisa DeLand Vigor (Rick); infant brother, Bert Harrop Fisher; and sisters: Glenda Algood (Dean), Eloise Peterson Hayden (Mitch), and Gae Nell Holland (Clive); brothers-in-law: Lynn Copper and Robert Brown. A viewing will be held on Monday, May 23, 2016, from 6:00 – 8:00 P.M. at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 South State Street, Murray, Utah. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 24, 2016, at 11:00 A.M. at the LDS Revere Branch, 981 East Revere Circle, Salt Lake City, Utah with a viewing prior to the service from 10:00 – 10:45 A.M. Interment at Mountain View Memorial Estates. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the University of Utah Athletic Department in the name of the Walt and Wilma Athletic Training Room, in care of the Spence & Cleon Eccles Football Center at 600 South Guardsman Way, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112. Instead of the usual funeral dress, those who attend the viewing and/or the funeral are encouraged to dress in their Ute attire. Online condolences may be shared at www.jenkins-soffe.com. Funeral Home: Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary-Murray 4760 South State Street Murray, UT