Betty was born on October 4, 1935, in Langdon, ND, to Adolf and Lydia (Mueller) Schmidt. She graduated from Prophetstown High School in 1953 and married her high school sweetheart, Darold Wildman, on June 13, 1954. After 47 years of marriage, he passed away in 2001. She was also preceded in death by her parents, eldest daughter, Elizabeth “Liz” Wildman and two brothers: Eddie and Howard. Betty reunited with a high school friend, Stanley Adams, and they shared their lives together for fourteen years until his passing in 2016.
She is survived by her daughter, Kim (Steve) Hegenbarth of Mapleton, IL, her son, Mike (Amy) Wildman of North Aurora, IL, five grandchildren: Hillari Ladd of Bozeman, MT, Ashley (Mike) Krueger of Sugar Grove, IL, Jenny (Nic) Giamalva of Maple Park, IL, Zack Wildman of Evanston, IL, and Ellen Wildman of Nashville, TN. She also has seven beautiful great grandchildren.
Betty worked many types of retail jobs over the years and although she enjoyed the interaction with customers, family was the guiding force in her life. She was most happy when surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Always up for an adventure, she was often referred to as the cool grandma who was more than eager to participate in activities.
At the center of her life was Union Church in Brimfield, IL. She shared her strong faith through words and actions, using her gift to play an important role in the children’s ministry and its teachings. She helped coordinate church events and incorporated her love of gardening to beautify the church grounds.
When at home, you would most likely find her in the yard, creating and tending to her beautiful flower gardens in her infamous tube top and shorts. Her gardens were her happy place.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2024, beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria. A visitation is scheduled one hour prior to the services, with a graveside service and burial at Swan Lake Memory Gardens to follow.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer Association Peoria Chapter.
You may view Betty’s obituary online at www.Woolsey-Wilton.com
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Alzheimer Association Peoria Chapter
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