Trude K. Williams

Trude Kristine Williams , 68, of Arcadia, California, died Monday, April 10, 2017, at Methodist Hospital in Arcadia. Her memorial service in Monrovia, California will be held at Turner and Stevens Live Oak Mortuary on April 21, 2017 at 7 p.m. with viewing from 5-9 p.m. Her funeral service will be at Bethel Church on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in Willmar. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. the evening of Monday, May 1, 2017 at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home.

Trude was born in Northfield, Minnesota, on May 7, 1948. Her parents were Ruth and Donald H. Petersen. She graduated from Willmar High School in 1966. She attended Gustavus Adolphus College and graduated with honors with a degree in nursing.

Trude served her country in the Army Nurse Corps from 1970 to 1972.

On October 17, 1970 Trude was united in marriage to Benjamin (Bill) W. Williams in Ft. Ord, California. They were blessed with over 46 years of remarkable devotion and commitment to one another. Their life together took them from California to Oregon, Texas, Idaho, and Alaska as they added both children and many happy memories and experiences to the life they built together. Their latest move brought them back to California where Trude and Bill loved to roam the coast or take long rides by motorcycle. Their beautiful marriage endured nearly a half a century and was characterized by true love and friendship of the deepest kind, embodying the sacred relationship described in the Bible as “two shall become one.”

Trude was a devoted wife and mother to her three children. Beyond her dedication to her family, Trude was an excellent Registered Nurse who excelled and advanced in her field over several decades of experience. She achieved her Masters in Hospital Administration at University of Alaska, in Anchorage, and went on to pursue administrative roles in the nursing field. Eventually, as she and her husband Bill moved back to California, Trude accomplished many professional goals and shared her talents and expertise as administrator and chief officer of various hospitals in Los Angeles County.

Trude is remembered by her family as a most excellent and loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She lived her life wishing to make the very most of every day and giving 100% of her energy to all that she put her hand to. She used to say, “Every day is a gift.” Without question she used the gifts of the days she was given to leave a legacy of love to her surviving husband, children, and grandchildren, as well as the countless others she touched with her career in service to others in the field of nursing.

Surviving Trude is her husband, Bill Williams of Arcadia; their three children, Stephanie Suzanne Sanchez of Baldwin Park, Heather (and Andrew) King of Costa Mesa, and Mark (and Diana) Williams of West Covina; a brother, Matthew K. Petersen of Willmar, Minnesota, a sister, Linda (and Bob) Walter of Sheridan, Montana, a sister, Claudia (and Gordon) Chalmers of Elk River, Minnesota; six grandchildren, Dalton Bates of Baldwin Park, Andrew, Emma, Shelby, and Sky King of Costa Mesa, and Benjamin Williams of West Covina.

She was preceded in death by her parents.