1909
Wenita
2006
Wenita Duffield
July 1, 1909 — March 11, 2006
Wenita L. (Weeks) Duffield was born on July 1, 1909, in Welcome, MN, to parents, William H. and Leola (Williams) Weeks. As a young girl, Nita attended school near Welcome, MN, before the family moved to Stanley, WI. She graduated from Stanley High School in 1927. Following graduation, Nita and her family moved to the Browns Valley area. Nita, her father and her brother Roger rode in a stock car of a train most of the way. Nita attended teachers training at the Teachers College in Minot, ND. She taught country school in North Dakota for a few years then returned to Browns Valley, MN, where she taught in a country school in Roberts county until she married Ward.
When her youngest daughter, Mary, started school, Nita then returned to teaching and taught first grade in the Browns Valley Public School.
On August 4, 1934, Nita married Ward Duffield in Eureka, SD. The couple made their home in Browns Valley, MN, and to this union six children were born, Nina, Thalia, Wendell, Jackie, Jean and Mary. Together the family enjoyed many trips in their old orange school bus which Ward had converted into a camper. For two weeks every summer, they would travel to see family and friends and see the sights in the United States from Coast to Coast. In their later years, Nita and Ward enjoyed traveling to see their children and grandchildren and even enjoyed a trip to Europe.
When not traveling, Nita loved tending to her garden as well as canning and making apple and chokecherry jelly. She loved to ice skate and was an excellent bridge player and treasured the memories made and times spent with family and friends playing cards. In her spare time, Nita enjoyed sitting quietly, reading a book or working on one of her many knitting and crocheting projects.
Nita was a member of the Browns Valley VFW Auxiliary in which she was a 60 year member. She was member of the United Methodist/Presbyterian Church in which she served in many capacities. Nita was also a member of the Order Eastern Star and had served as past Worthy Matron and was also a member of the Progress Study Club.
In spite of developing the handicaps of macular degeneration and essential tremors in her later years, Nita remained active in many activities and maintained a positive attiude and courageous spirit. Although she was no longer able to read, play cards or knit and crochet, she enjoyed hours of listening to her books on tape.
Nita passed away on Saturday, March 11, 2006, at the Corteau des Prairies Hospital in Sisseton, SD, reaching the age of 96 years. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Ward; two brothers, Roger and Homer; one sister, Willda Heath; two grandsons, David Lubbers and J. Sloan Downey; and a son-in-law, Richard Lubbers.
Wenita is survived by her children, Nina (Merlyn) Saxton of Johnson City, TX; Thalia Duffield of Baxter, MN; Wendell (Anne) Duffield of Flagstaff, AZ; Jackie Lubbers of North Oaks, MN; Jean (Tom) Jung of Oriental, NC; and Mary (Ron) Downey of Buena Vista, VA; grandchildren, Steve, Natalie, Darren, Patrick, Elizabeth, Teri, Paul, Darcie, Peter, and Fran; eighteen great-grandchildren; two brothers, Willis (Shirley) Weeks of Wilmot, SD, and Harold Weeks of St. Louis, MO; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends.
When her youngest daughter, Mary, started school, Nita then returned to teaching and taught first grade in the Browns Valley Public School.
On August 4, 1934, Nita married Ward Duffield in Eureka, SD. The couple made their home in Browns Valley, MN, and to this union six children were born, Nina, Thalia, Wendell, Jackie, Jean and Mary. Together the family enjoyed many trips in their old orange school bus which Ward had converted into a camper. For two weeks every summer, they would travel to see family and friends and see the sights in the United States from Coast to Coast. In their later years, Nita and Ward enjoyed traveling to see their children and grandchildren and even enjoyed a trip to Europe.
When not traveling, Nita loved tending to her garden as well as canning and making apple and chokecherry jelly. She loved to ice skate and was an excellent bridge player and treasured the memories made and times spent with family and friends playing cards. In her spare time, Nita enjoyed sitting quietly, reading a book or working on one of her many knitting and crocheting projects.
Nita was a member of the Browns Valley VFW Auxiliary in which she was a 60 year member. She was member of the United Methodist/Presbyterian Church in which she served in many capacities. Nita was also a member of the Order Eastern Star and had served as past Worthy Matron and was also a member of the Progress Study Club.
In spite of developing the handicaps of macular degeneration and essential tremors in her later years, Nita remained active in many activities and maintained a positive attiude and courageous spirit. Although she was no longer able to read, play cards or knit and crochet, she enjoyed hours of listening to her books on tape.
Nita passed away on Saturday, March 11, 2006, at the Corteau des Prairies Hospital in Sisseton, SD, reaching the age of 96 years. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Ward; two brothers, Roger and Homer; one sister, Willda Heath; two grandsons, David Lubbers and J. Sloan Downey; and a son-in-law, Richard Lubbers.
Wenita is survived by her children, Nina (Merlyn) Saxton of Johnson City, TX; Thalia Duffield of Baxter, MN; Wendell (Anne) Duffield of Flagstaff, AZ; Jackie Lubbers of North Oaks, MN; Jean (Tom) Jung of Oriental, NC; and Mary (Ron) Downey of Buena Vista, VA; grandchildren, Steve, Natalie, Darren, Patrick, Elizabeth, Teri, Paul, Darcie, Peter, and Fran; eighteen great-grandchildren; two brothers, Willis (Shirley) Weeks of Wilmot, SD, and Harold Weeks of St. Louis, MO; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends.