WILMA JEAN JEFFER, age 74, of Luverne, died Sunday, March 18, 2018, at the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Home in Luverne. She was born June 21, 1943, in Rock Rapids, IA, to Charles and Reika (Kracht) Smidstra. Wilma moved to Luverne as a teenager and graduated from Luverne High School in 1961. Wilma met her husband, Joe Jeffer and got married at the America Reformed Church, in Luverne, on August 29, 1963. To this union a son and daughter were born.
Wilma was a woman of many talents. She was an ace shot with either a gun or bow and arrow. Wilma could catch fish whether she sat on the shoreline or out in the middle of the lake in their boat. She taught herself to crochet making baby blankets, receiving blankets, baby sweater sets, Afghans and many novelty items. She also became interested in rubber stamping and made hundreds of greeting cards for family and friends. Many a person received her accordion card. She also volunteered for ten years at the Mary Jane Brown Home, in Luverne, and was honored as Volunteer of the Year. She would also burn up the phone lines talking to friends and family for hours. Wilma loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. She especially looked forward to the summers when her son and his family would come home from Virginia. Then her whole family was together making forever memories.
Wilma is survived by her husband, Joseph Jeffer, Luverne; son, Richard (Pam) Jeffer, Midlothian, Virginia; daughter, Rachelle (Mark) VanderWaal, Edgerton; four grandchildren, Joey Jeffer and Kristin Jeffer; Brady VanderWaal (special friend, Shelbi Westover), and Tanner VanderWaal (special friend, Courtney Anderson); and a brother, Ben (Lylas) Smidstra, Luverne.
She was preceded in death by both parents; and five siblings, Albert Smidstra, Jennie Vande Weerd, Jessie Wiersma, Susie Kelderman and Bert Smidstra.
A time of fellowship will be from 4-7 pm Friday at the Dingmann Funeral Home in Luverne. A memorial service will be at 7 pm Friday at the Dingmann Funeral Home, in Luverne, officiated by Pastor Tom Voigt. A private family committal of cremains will be at a later date.
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