Velma Muhleman

Velma Muhleman, 88, of Bigfork passed away in peace at her home Monday, May 29, 2006, after a very long illness. She was surrounded by her daughters and husband.

She was born Oct. 15, 1917, in Crookston, Minn., to Esther and Carl Gustav Olson, and grew up to be a lady in Minneapolis.

Velma considered her greatest achievement to be her three daughters whom she unconditionally loved to her last breath, Kathy Tom of LaVerne, Calif., Christina Sandra Soquist of Kalispell, and Nancy Piscitelli of Hayden Lake, Idaho. Her husband of more than 50 years is Duane "Dewey" Muhleman, who was with her from the beginning to the very end of her life.

Velma followed Dewey's long academic career with constant support and encouragement, with a sense of fun and adventure, from Harvard to Cornell and on to 34 years at Caltech, in Pasadena, Calif. She always loved Pasadena but had no trouble with their sojourns in the East.

She was a member of PEO most of her adult life in Pasadena and in Bigfork. She loved PEO and completely believed in their work and the friendship of like ladies. She served two terms as the president of the Caltech Women's Club and had a great interest in helping the families of foreign students and new faculty members. Equally dear to her heart was the Methodist Church in which she was a member for more than 60 years. She was a member of the Community United Methodist Church of Bigfork for the past decade.

Velma was a great aid to the education of her daughters and others. She began a career in real estate in the 1970s, which she continued for more than 20 fulfilling years in Pasadena and Arcadia, Calif., where she developed at least one friend per real estate deal! She will be remembered by all the families of Dewey's graduate students for whom she mitigated the impatience of Dewey's rather high-pressured manner. University life was a treasure for her.

Six young people called her "Grandma"—Suzanne Tom, Eric Tom and Lisa Tom, all of Southern California, Chayne Piscitelli of Portland, Carina Piscitelli McGee of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and Cody Piscitelli of Hayden Lake, Idaho. She has a great-grandson, Izaak Piscitelli; and a great-granddaughter, Mia Tom, of Pasadena.

Velma is survived by two sisters, Genevive Harkness of Tampa, Fla., and Ardelle Maack of Springfield, Mo.; very dear nieces, Judy Canning and Kristie Sommerville of Tampa; and nephews, Terry, Rick and Don Flattem in the Midwest. Dear to her were her brother- and sister-in-law, Roland and Betty Muhleman in California, and a far off brother-in-law, Jerry Muhleman, in Ohio.

All who really knew her will remember her as an energetic, cheerful and always optimistic person who wanted to make friends for life. She left most of them in Southern California when, after Dewey's retirement, they moved to Lakeside. She always loved the mountains and the lake but didn't have much of a chance to get to know her new house in Bigfork.

The family is very grateful for the loyal and gentle care during the past four years of Elly Jones and Sandra Brown. Hospice care was exactly what the family needed and "we wish to particularly thank nurse Pat Erickson and the wonderful hospice volunteers, Marion and Jane."

A memorial service for Velma M. Muhleman was held June 4, at the Community United Methodist Church in Bigfork.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Velma's family.