Wilma S. Wilde Obituary (1935 - 2017)

Mary Wilma Sorensen Wilde was born on March 3, 1935, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Wendell Nels Sorensen and Mary Booth Sorensen. She passed away on April 9, 2017, in Salt Lake, from kidney failure and Alzheimer's disease. Wilma was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend, who had a caring spirit and a love for simple pleasures in life. Wilma grew up in Salt Lake, and even though she experienced tragedy at an early age when her father died, she spoke often of the love and protective nature of her mother, sister, Lila, and brother, Roy. She admired her mother for working hard to provide for the family, she learned from Lila how to care for a home and family, and she watched and grew to understand from Roy that almost anything can be fixed. She had many happy memories of growing up in her tightly knit family. She developed a special bond with her stepfather, John Scott. Wilma graduated from West High School in 1953. On July 20, 1953, she married Herschel Calvin Wilde in Elko, Nevada. They were later sealed to each other and their family in the Salt Lake Temple. They had five children – Boyd, Wayne, Marianne, Winston, and Angie. Wilma mourned deeply the death of Winston during his birth. She had love to spare for children, so she and Cal began participating in a foster parenting program, bringing numerous children into their home, which brought much joy to Wilma. Wilma often said her family was the most important thing in her life. She fed them hearty meals, delicious warm loaves of bread and other baked goods, and bottles of her homemade jams and fruits. She learned to sew clothing and also created beautiful quilts. She planted and grew a lush garden and eagerly looked forward each summer to the simple pleasure of digging the first red potatoes, husking the first corn-on-the-cob, and biting into the first ripe tomatoes. Wilma packed a great picnic basket. Wilma and Cal traveled often, near and far, with their family and later as a couple. In 1978, they lived in Rome for six months and told many tales of that great adventure. She also loved lighthouses and they visited many. There was a special place in Wilma's heart for dogs and children. She always had a treat in her pocket for her pups and a treat in her kitchen for the kids. Wilma was a faithful member of the LDS church. She served diligently in many callings including Relief Society and Primary President, Compassionate Service Leader, and Temple Worker, but took most seriously the calling of Visiting Teacher, and the exhortation to care for and love everyone. In the past few years, even as she lost her memory, whenever she saw someone who seemed to need help, she reached out with a hand of friendship, a warm embrace, or a kind bit of guidance. Wilma looked forward to being reunited with her parents, husband, brother, infant son, and grandson. She is survived by her children, Boyd Wilde, Wayne (Jill) Wilde, Marianne (Jerry) Allred, and Angie Massarella; sister, Lila; 12 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; and many other family members. We will miss her spunky loving nature. Boyd lived with Wilma for many years and she appreciated his presence in her life and all of the help he willingly gave to her, which he simply viewed as his duty as her son. When we realized she needed additional help, we felt blessed to find the steady, compassionate care provided to her by so many at Silverado Aspen Park. We could never have given her everything you all gave to her. Funeral services will be on Thursday, April 13, at 12:00 noon at the LDS Chapel at 5605 South Vine Street, Murray, Utah. A viewing will be held on Wednesday, April 12, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 S State, Murray, and also from 10:45-11:45 prior to the funeral service at the church. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 South Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, UT. Online condolences may be shared at www.jenkins-soffe.com Funeral Home: Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary-Murray 4760 South State Street Murray, UT 84107