Obituary of Alice Widhalm

Alice M. (Pelster) Widhalm, age 84 of Hugo Colorado passed away Saturday, September 1, 2012 at the Lincoln Community Nursing Home in Hugo, Colorado. She was born August 18, 1928 in Ordway, Colorado the oldest daughter of Joseph L. and Mary E. (McCabe) Pelster. She graduated from Ordway High School in 1946 and went to work as a clerk for the Lincoln County Assessor’s Office in Hugo, Colorado. This is where Alice met the love of her life and future husband, Gus Widhalm. On October 6, 1949, Alice was united in marriage to August Vance Widhalm at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Hugo, Colorado. They shared over fifty-four years of marriage before August "Gus" passed away on November 24, 2003. To this union they shared four daughters, Carol Dyvone, Luinda Marie, Paula Rose and Amy J. As a young girl Alice would accompany her father Joe who played the fiddle as they entertained at many dances around the community of Ordway, Colorado; Alice accompanied him on the piano. She would play for the girls when they were small and it was so much fun to dance to songs like “Put Your Little Foot:. Alice was a very active housewife taking care of her children and making sure her daughters had everything they needed. Alice always made sure there was food on the table and at times would help Gus in the fields. The girls always enjoyed home canned fruits, vegetables, jelly and pickles that were prepared in season, this was a family project and everyone pitched in. She spent many hours sewing, knitting and crocheting blankets and clothes for her family. All of the grandchildren have blankets that she made and they still enjoy them today. She loved to dance to all kinds of music and was always up for playing card games with her daughters, grandchildren and organizing card parties with friends and neighbors. She loved traveling with her family and friends. Organizing family photo albums was her specialty; Grandma knew everyone in the many albums and could tell fascinating stories in detail about the pictures. Recently, Alice was a wealth of information for nieces and nephews as they gather information for their family trees. She was also very active in her community and especially at the St. Anthony’s Catholic Church Parish, including the Alter and Rosary Society and the Joe Will V.F.W. Post #6612 women’s auxiliary in Hugo. Alice’s greatest love was her family. She will always be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and neighbor. Her love and her spirit will be expressed in the daily lives of all her family and friends forever. Alice was preceded in death by her husband August; her parents; one brother, Thomas “Tom” Pelster and one infant brother. She is survived by four daughters, Carol Dyvone Widhalm of Seattle, Washington, Luinda Raines & husband Rob of Hugo, Colorado, Paula Crabb & husband Robin of Burlington, Colorado and Amy J. Widhalm of Sterling, Colorado; one sister, Mary Jo Bernard of Colorado Springs, Colorado; two brothers, Richard “Dick” Pelster of Ordway, Colorado, Robert “Bert” Pelster of Winnemucca, Nevada; six grandchildren, Kenya Thompson, Danny Hawkins, Heather Hildgers (Jason), Evan Crabb (Elisabeth), Nicole Crabb and Carol Raines; great grandchildren, Joekolby Tyson, Elliana Marshall, Dyvonna Hawkins, Ryan & Reese Hildgers, Dylan Raines & John Hall.