Wilma Schlager was born 1/4/1927 in Mitchell NE as lucky number 13 out of 17. Her parents were sharecropper immigrants from German colonies in Russia. She grew up near Hawk Springs WY where she excelled at school and graduated as HS Valedictorian.

She knew Chuck Ward from LaGrange, but they didn't become serious until winter 1946. He refused to return to college until she married him. After their wedding in March 1947 in Torrington, WY they moved to the University of Montana, where their only child Chuck Ward Jr. was born in 1949.

Chuck Sr. became a Wyoming Game Warden and was posted throughout eastern WY until they finally settled in Casper. There, Wilma worked for Peterson Construction as Office Manager and Chuck Sr. became the well-known G&F representative with daily radio programs, weekly TV programs, Junior High & Elementary School Conservation Science Programs.

After retirement, they moved to a small farm with a huge garden outside Lingle, and then to Torrington, where she loved daily walks with sister Clara. Eventually they moved to Puyallup, WA to be near their son. Chuck Sr. dies in 2014. Wilma remained at an independent retirement facility until 2020 when she moved to an adult family home with only 4 other residences and a very loving, caring staff.

Wilma died peacefully on 12/19/2023 during a post-dinner nap. She was just a few days shy of her 97th birthday, making her the longest living and last of the 17.