- Date Of Birth: August 13, 1924
- Date Of Death: November 19, 2014
- State: Idaho
Born in Winnetoon, Nebraska, on August 13, 1924, Lillian Wilper died in Boise, Idaho, on November 19, 2014. Lillian arrived in Idaho with her parents, John and Vera (Praslycka) Mach, who had come with other Czech immigrants to Nampa, where they purchased a small farm. Lillian’s fondest childhood memories were of the parties, plays, and dances held regularly by the local Czech community. She began her education at Roosevelt School. Coming from a home where English was never spoken, by the end of first grade Lillian spoke fluently and announced proudly to her classmates that she was the best reader of them all. The Mach family weathered the Great Depression without much change. Lillian recalled, “Those were happy times for us. We grew our own food, and we didn’t know we were poor.” At age thirteen, Lillian left the farm to move to town in order to attend Nampa High School, graduating in 1941 at the age of sixteen. One of her teachers was author Annie Laurie Bird, and her favorite was Mrs. Hedges. When Lillian was sixteen, a handsome young man from Boise asked her to dance. Afterward, she told her best friend, “If he ever asks me to marry him, I am going to.” It turned out, the boy, John Henry Wilper, was smitten, too, and asked for her hand soon after they met. Lillian knew her dad would not permit her to marry young, so they waited. Four years later, on March 25, 1944 in Concord, California, Lillian married John. They lived in Martinez, California for a few months before returning to Idaho and making their home on the Boise Bench. Before starting their family, John made his living as a building contractor, and Lillian worked at the Idaho Statehouse and later, Goodman Oil. Shortly after the birth of their fifth child, John became ill and died unexpectedly. Lillian was faced with the challenge of raising their family by herself. She went to work in the data processing center of Idaho First National Bank. There, she met many cherished friends, and retired after twenty-nine years. Throughout her life, Lillian was very practical, fun-loving, thrifty and generous. She became a true matriarch for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her devotion to them and to her close friends fulfilled her. Through her volunteer work for the St.
