Wilma Fisher DeLand

1919 - 2016

2/20/1919 ~ 5/19/2016
Wilma Fisher DeLand was born in Annis, Idaho (Jefferson County) to Albert Martin Fisher and Martha Alice Harrop Fisher on their ranch in the same bedroom as her six sisters and one brother.
She was raised doing the same work as the ranch hands and could milk cows, pick potatoes, thin beets, haul hay, sheer sheep and any other job that needed to be done. She skipped the second grade and at 18 was elected Jefferson County Rodeo Queen.
She married her husband Walter Ernest DeLand on June 7, 1939 and their marriage was solemnized the following year in the Salt Lake Temple. They moved to Magna, Utah where she celebrated her first wedding anniversary in the old St. Mark's hospital in SLC giving birth to their first child, Gary. She returned to Idaho the following year to give birth to Gae Lyn. After Walt's service in the Navy during World War II, two more children were born, Loni in 1945 and Lisa in 1953. The family lived in Idaho until Walt was hired as the University of Utah's head athletic trainer and the family moved to Salt Lake City in 1953.
Wilma was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints and served in various callings in the Primary and Relief Society in several different wards. She came from a rich pioneer heritage with family joining the church in Europe and New York, following Joseph Smith until his death and then traveling with Brigham Young and the saints to SLC. One branch of the family was sent from SLC to rescue members of the Martin Hancock handcart group which included ancestors from another family line.
Wilma was a beautiful and gracious lady. She was a spotless housekeeper and always had her makeup on, her hair combed and beautifully dressed as soon as she was awake. She led by example; especially giving service to others. She worked in sales and as a department manager for J.C. Penney and in sales, as a buyer and assistant manager of La Ries in the Cottonwood Mall. When Walt and Wilma opened the Walt DeLand Nutrition Center she was the store manager and also worked as a manager when the store was purchased by Skaggs Corporation. When they left Skaggs, they opened the DeLand Family Nutrition store which was managed by their daughter, Lisa. When Lisa died October 13, 1980, Wilma managed the store until Walt died of cancer in 1982.
Wilma loved traveling (visiting many states, Canada, Mexico and several countries in Europe). She went to Hawaii 21 times with Walt and after his death spent many winters in Hawaii with her sister, DeOnne. She enjoyed golfing and bowling. She loved all of the University of Utah sports, especially football and basketball, where she was honored at a half-time ceremony as "Wilma DeLand Super Fan" and was a member of the Crimson Club. Up until the day she passed away she never missed watching a University football or basketball game. Friends and neighbors always knew when the 'Utes" were playing, as she always put her red "U" in the window and dressed in red from head-to-toe the entire day. When the new Spence and Cleon Eccles Football Center was built and dedicated on August 15, 2013, the trainer's office was named the Walt and Wilma DeLand Athletic Training Room. She was also an avid Jazz fan watching all of their games.
At age 92, she moved to the Olympus Ranch Independent Living Center in Murray, UT. She really enjoyed the last 5 years living in the beautiful facility where she loved the many new friends she made among the residents, staff and management, where she continued visiting teaching until one month prior to her death.
She is survived by her children: Gary Walter DeLand (Kathy), Gae Lyn DeLand and Loni Fisher DeLand (Denise Austin); 12 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren; sisters, DeOnne Fisher (SLC), Martha Dean Brown (St. Anthony, ID) Marlene Cooper (Idaho Falls, Id); special cousin, Melva Mae Searl; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and daughter, Lisa DeLand Vigor (Rick); infant brother, Bert Harrop Fisher; and sisters: Glenda Algood (Dean), Eloise Peterson Hayden (Mitch), and Gae Nell Holland (Clive); brothers-in-law: Lynn Cooper and Robert Brown.
A viewing will be held on Monday, May 23, 2016, from 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 South State Street, Murray, Utah. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 24, 2016, at 11:00 A.M. at the LDS Revere Branch, 981 East Revere Circle, Salt Lake City, Utah with a viewing prior to the service from 10:00 - 10:45 A.M. Interment at Mountain View Memorial Estates.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the University of Utah Athletic Department in the name of the Walt and Wilma Athletic Training Room, in care of the Spence & Cleon Eccles Football Center at 600 South Guardsman Way, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112.
Instead of the usual funeral dress, those who attend the viewing and/or the funeral are encouraged to dress in their Ute attire.
Online condolences may be shared at www.jenkins-soffe.com.