Wilma Esther Aldrich died Monday at the Eastern Star Home in Redfield.

Her funeral will be Thursday, at 10:30 a.m. at Thelen Funeral Home. Reverend Grace Rhodes will officiate. After the funeral service, Wilma will be cremated and her ashes will be buried in the Mellette Cemetery.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 1-8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6-7:00 p.m. at Thelen Funeral Home.

Wilma's family prefers memorials to the Eastern Star Chapel Fund. www.thelenfuneralhome.com

Wilma Esther Bloomhall was born July 21, 1918 at Ashton, SD. to Erwin C. and Nellie (Graves) Bloomhall. She graduated from Ashton High School and attended Dakota Wesleyan College. In 1939, Wilma married Vern Aldrich in Pierre, SD. They lived in the Ashton and Brentford areas most of their married life. During World War II they lived in Omaha where Wilma worked in a Skelly Gas Station. Wilma helped Verne on the farm. After Verne's death in 1978 she moved to Mellette. She then lived in Aberdeen and Rapid City. Two years ago she moved to the Eastern Star Home in Redfield. She loved the Eastern Star Home and the people in it. The residents and workers were her best friends. Wilma was an avid sports fan, especially a fan of the Minnesota Twins. She was interested in genealogy and enjoyed a trip a few years ago with other members of her family to the family homesteads in Wisconsin and Iowa. She loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren very much.


She was a member of the Ashton Eastern Star and had held most of the offices. She was active in the Brentford PTA and she was a member of the Brentford School Board.


Wilma is survived by two sons: Bill (Lynne) Aldrich of Glendale, AZ; Doug, (Val) Aldrich of Rapid City, SD; one daughter Cheryl (David) Walberg of St. Joseph, MI; six grandchildren: Sheri (Burton) Bentley of Tucson, AZ; Julie (Mike) Dinger of Menifee, CA; Bill Aldrich Jr. of Glendale, AZ; JoAnne (Dale) McPherson of Ft. Richardson, AK; Melinda (Clay) Beber of Ft. Wayne, IN; and Rene Aldrich of Terre Haute, IN; and seven great grandchildren.


She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, a son-in-law, two brothers, and one sister.