Venice Clotele Armstrong

Venice Clotele Armstrong (Wilde) was born December 9, 1931 to Albert Alonson Wilde and Jennie Rae Wilde (Peck). Her parents owned farmland in Melba, Idaho, so Clotele was spared the hunger of the Great Depression, but not the hard work, as she not-so-fondly recalls. Both Albert and Jennie brought children from previous marriages (both were bereaved) so she had quite a few older brothers and sisters. Only she and her older brother Jesse were the (surviving) offspring of both of her parents. She was the baby of a large family.

Melba is a small town in Southern Idaho, so it is no surprise she grew up knowing her future husband Wesley Armstrong, a fellow resident of the town, since childhood. They went through some difficult years apart when Wes fought in the Korean War as an airplane radio operator. But Clotele got a new nickname out of it when the plane painted with her old nickname—Skippy—was hit by shrapnel and the last two letters were blown off. For the rest of his life, Wes called her Skip. They had five children: Tony (Marlies), Cathy (Barry Hulet), Steve (Anna), Christi (Bob Worsley) and Nick (Laura) in order of birth, though Nick was born 45 minutes after Christi as they are twins. When Wes died in 2010, they had been married 60 years.

Clotele was a richly loving wife and mother. She showered her children and dozens of grand and great grand children with a love that leaves a truly glowing legacy of love that will live on for generations.. Her loving glow will shine forever in heaven.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 23, 2023 from 9-9:45 AM with a service to follow at 10:00 AM at Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park and Funeral Care, 400 S. Power Rd., Mesa, Arizona 85206