- Date Of Birth: March 27, 1906
- Date Of Death: April 22, 2007
- State: Montana
VELMA ‘VEL’ R. DEWEESE
Velma ‘Vel’ R. DeWeese, age 101, went to her eternal home in heaven on Sunday, April 22, 2007 at the Immanuel Lutheran Home, one month after her 101st birthday. She was born on March 27, 1906, three miles south of Creston to early day pioneers Joseph Calvin and Mary Ellen (Elliot) Dyer. She was the last survivor of eight siblings.
Vlema attended grade school at Creston. She and her five sisters milked cows each morning before walking three miles to school. When she was young, there wasn’t a lot of time for fun on the Dyer ranch as there were too many chores. She graduated from Flathead County High School in 1925. After graduation, Velma moved to Spokane and worked as a hostess at the Davenport Hotel dining room. She and her new best friend, Evelyn later moved to San Fransisco to “seek their fortunes”. It was there Velma met and married Jess Larson. They both loved the City by the Bay. Fisherman’s Wharf was a favorite hangout for Velma and Evelyn and their husbands. After a night of dancing, they would go to the wharf and pick live crab and lobster from the barrels and cook them in the pots for a feast on the wharf.
Vlema and Jess owned and operated various businesses in the Bay area. After Jess’ untimely death, she continued as a businesswoman. She weathered the tests of the Great Depression of the 1930’s even though times were tough.
Velma met and married Everett “Eddie” DeWeese in 1948. They later moved to Salem Oregon where they owned and operated a dry-cleaning business for many years. After selling the business they moved to Dallas, Oregon and bought a ranch and fruit and nut orchard. They remained in the Dallas area until Eddie’s death in 1987. Velma was very active in Eastern Star, both in California and Oregon. She achieved the highest rank of the Order. Her father was a charter member of the Masonic Lodge in Kalispell.
Velma returned to Kalispell in 1989 to lived near her sister and other family members. She was an excellent seamstress and fashioned and tailored much of her own wardrobe. Her knitting skills were also to be admired. Velma knitted many items and made crafts for the church bazaar. She was a world traveler and always encouraged her family to “go while you can”. She loved family events and her contribution was to bring her famous lemon meringue pie. Velma enjoyed playing pinochle with her friends at the Kalispell Senior Center and at the Buffalo Hill Terrace. She lived independently at the Terrace until a recent stroke forced her to move to Immanuel Lutheran Home. Velma was a long-time member of the Baptist Church in Dallas, OR and attended Central Christian Church in Kalispell. She was always upbeat regardless of her situation. Her sharp mind and good eyesight served her well to the end. Velma loved her D.A. Davidson family, especially Ron, Tyler and Becky, who hosted and honored her at her last three birthday parties; 99, 100, 101. She was especially proud of the letter from the President of D.A. Davidson Corp. congratulating her and stating she was their oldest living client.
Velma was preceded in death by all of her siblings, including brothers: Bill, Burt and John Dyer; and sisters: Etta Sholman, Bernice Fagerland, Ellen Fagerland, Joy Plummer and Grace Anderson Vestre; and a number of nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death by her dear and close friend, Evelyn Ruckman of Antelope, CA who just celebrated her 100th birthday.
Velma is survived by nieces and nephews: Lew and Brenda Anderson, Allan and Phyllis Clark, Doris Handford, Alicia Fagerland and Chuck Pacheco all of Kalispell, MT; Anna Mae and Gene Paul of Rapid City, SD, and Sandra and Jerry Yonke of Port Ludlow, WA. she is also survived by numerous great, great-great and great-great-great nieces, nephews as well as cousins.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Velma’s family.
