Minnie B. Ferguson

"Minnie B" Holtermann Ferguson, 92, of Dilley Texas, died Sunday May 8, 2005. At the time of her death Mrs. Ferguson was a resident of Brighton Gardens Nursing Home in San Antonio.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 60 years, James "Williby" Ferguson; her parents Etta and Alfred Holtermann; her sisters Mary E. "Madie" Pierce and Frances Gwendolyn "Gwen" Pierce; her brothers Raymond Holtermann and LeRoy Holtermann.

She is survived by her devoted sisters, Ruth Avey, Bee Avey and Nell Gilless, and by numerous nieces and nephews.

Although Mrs. Ferguson and her husband were unable to have children, Minnie B was a school teacher in south Central Texas for 27 years, and she considered all of her students to be "her children."

Mrs. Ferguson always did her best to teach them, and through her teaching, to help them and guide them to be the type of people that all parents want their children to be.

Minnie B was born in San Marcos, Texas on February 7, 1913, the fifth of eight children of Etta and Alfred Holtermann. She was raised there and graduated from San Marcos High School on May 22, 1931, and then earned a B. A. degree in teaching from South West Texas State Teachers College on May 28, 1935.

While growing up in San Marcos, Minnie B would often help her mother and older sisters with the upbringing of her younger sisters and with the first group of nephews and nieces in the family.

One of the things most remembered by the family was Minnie B escorting the youngsters from her parent's home on North Street down to Rio Vista to go swimming in the San Marcos River. She was there to watch over them, which she dutifully did, despite the fact that she never learned to swim herself.

She would make certain that the smaller children stayed in shallow water, and kept an eye on the older ones to make sure they all were safe. While in San Marcos, "Sister", as she was affectionately named by her family, was a member of the First Methodist Church of San Marcos, which she regularly attended, where she sang in the choir and where she and Williby were married on September 26th, 1942.

After graduating, she first taught briefly in Bigfoot, Texas, and then taught the rest of her career in Dilley, which is where she met and married Williby Ferguson. Minnie B liked to tell family and friends that when she first met her husband to be he was the first and only man in Dilley with a radio in his car.

That, of course, made him somewhat of a local celebrity. Then, shortly after they started dating, he traded the radio to a friend in exchange for a nice heifer cow. In addition to her "adopted" school children, she always took a keen interest in all of her nieces and nephews, the six closest of whom she labeled her "pets", and by her example and with her longstanding love and attention she instilled in all of her "children" as well as her close friends and neighbors her personal characteristics of selflessness, generosity, kindness, patience, compassion and consideration for others.

Like many of her sisters, Minnie B was an avid sports fan, in particular of the Dallas Cowboys, and also followed other professional and college sports. She wasn't just a casual fan, but knew and understood as much or even more about the game of football and the players on her favorite teams as any of her nephews.

She also was a huge fan of country music singer George Strait. Of particular note, was Mrs. Ferguson's loving devotion to her husband, Williby, during the later years of his life when he suffered from the inevitable effects of advancing age.

Mr. Ferguson was born on June 22, 1908, in Millett, Texas and passed away on May 29, 2003, when both he and Minnie B were residents of Brighton Gardens. Minnie B's limitless devotion to Williby was demonstrated by the compassion, patience, understanding and loving support she gave him during his time of greatest need.

Her perseverance at that time and her selfless dedication to his comfort and care until the day that he died, will serve as both an example and an inspiration to all of Minnie B's family and friends.

She was a lovely and sweet lady who was both loved and admired by all who knew her.