Teresa Frances Deso

was born in Mason City Nebraska to Frank and Valentina Badura January 17, 1928, the

youngest of four children. Her mother passed away in 1930 during childbirth. Her father later

remarried and had 7 more children. In 1938 the family moved from Nebraska to farm in

Wyoming. In order to attend high school, Teresa moved to Billings, Montana by herself. After

graduating from Billings Senior High school in 1946, she attended nursing school at Carroll

College in Helena, Montana graduating in 1949 with a diploma in nursing. While working as a

nurse in Harding Montana, she met her future husband Bill at the rooming house where they

both resided. They were married on August 14,1950 in Harding.

They spent their first five years together moving around the country with Bill’s work. In 1956

they left the nomadic life of a doodlebugger to move to Calgary Alberta where Bill was employed

by Sinclair Oil Company. In 1963 he was transferred to Midland where they remained until his

death.

Although she did not work as a nurse the first 6 years they lived in Midland, Teresa never

stopped being one. She identified herself as a nurse whenever introduced, especially if they

were remotely connected to the medical field. In 1966 her training enabled her to save the life of

a neighborhood child who suffered a serious neck injury for which she received the National

Red Cross Lifesaving award. She returned to her nursing career full time in 1969 starting at the

Mast Clinic, then on to Midland Memorial Hospital. She worked primarily on the night shift in ICU

and then as the night shift house supervisor. Wherever she worked, she tirelessly mentored her

fellow nurses. Teresa moved eventually from the night shift to days to work in other areas at

MMH. She developed the protocols for the new Infection Control Department, assisted in

establishing the Same Day Surgery Department and worked in the blood bank donor room

drawing donors. In 1983 she helped found the Community Children’s Clinic where she

volunteered for many years after retiring from MMH.

Despite multiple health challenges, especially in her later years, Teresa remained active as

possible in the lives of her family and friends.

Preceding Teresa in death was Bill, her husband of 59 years, and her brothers Eugene and

Paul Badura, as well as several half brothers and sisters.

Left to mourn her passing is her sister Elmarie Denny; her 5 children and their spouses: Anne

and Kevin Skipper, Matthew and Ronda Deso, Donna and Chris Dunn, Michael and Nanette

Deso, and Cynthia and Vincent Gallo; her 13 grandchildren: Carrie, Andrew, Martha, Michael,

Melissa, Chase, Kimberly, Ashly, Kathleen, Vinnie, Weston, Mary, and Thomas; her 14 great

grandchildren: Sydney, Zane, Charlotte, Bonaventure, Victoria, Seraphina, Georgia, Sasha,

Walt, Mackenzie, Jackson, Kaitlyn, Makayla, and Truett, as well as her many nieces, nephews,

cousins and their families.

She is sorely missed by all who knew and loved her. We were privileged to have known her as a

mother, grandmother and great grandmother but most of all as a friend. A graveside service will be held on May 8, 2021 at 1100 am at Resthaven Memorial Park.

A reception to celebrate her life will follow the service starting at 12:30 at Ranchland Hills Golf

Club, 1600 E Wadley Ave.

Pallbearers will be Michael Pickell, Chase Deso, Thomas Fletcher, Andrew Dunn, Weston Gallo

and Zane Montgomery. Vinnie Gallo will be an Honorary pallbearer.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her memory to the Community Children’s Clinic

at P.O. Box 3328, Midland, Texas, 79702 or online, the Red Cross or charity of your choice