Lucille Deborah Sprague Wilson, 105

With sadness of her death, but celebration of her wonderful life, the family of Lucille Deborah Sprague Wilson announce her passing on Nov. 15, 2017, in Kalispell.

She had moved to the Flathead Valley in 2011 from the Baltimore-Annapolis area, was a resident of Buffalo Hill Terrace and, most recently, Welcov Assisted Living of Kalispell. She was the widow of Capt. (U.S. Naval Reserve) James Weber Wilson with whom she shared 55 years of marriage.

Debbie was born Sept. 2, 1912, at Eagle Point, Crater Lake Oregon to Henry Albert Sprague and Marjorie Nichols Savage who had homesteaded in Conrad, Montana, in 1911. She attended both one room schools and city public schools, graduating from public school in Port Angeles, Washington, where her parents permanently settled. When the Depression came, her father was reassigned from assistant plant manager of a pulp mill to night watchman ... but he had a job. The stark economic reality of the Depression never left her mindset and she became a shrewd saver and investor ... never spending capital, only the earnings and always saving for the unknown. As an only child growing up in logging camps, and seeing them burned out more than once forcing the family to start over, she became independent and self-assured ... both traits that boded well for her career and relationships with others.

She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington where she was president of the Alpha Delta PI sorority and Mortar Board. She was employed by I. Magnin and Company to start their College Bureau.

In 1936, she and Jim were married in Seattle and built a home on Magnolia Bluff where she raised their three children. She remained there during World War II while he was in the South Pacific in command of three different ships. In 1952, the family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, where Jim taught at the University of British Columbia and Debbie obtained her master’s degree in social work. In 1958, they moved to Washington, D.C., and she became a parole officer at the Federal Court House and then, for 13 years, the casework director and liaison to the American Red Cross for the Navy Relief Society.

At retirement, they moved to Annapolis, Maryland, to enjoy their waterfront home and sailing on the Chesapeake. They subsequently moved to Charlestown Retirement Community in Catonsville, Maryland, where Debbie was active in the Council and became their longest resident at over 20 years.

Debbie enjoyed the outdoors and traveling with family in friends. At age 91, on a safari in South Africa, she awoke from an afternoon nap in the bush only to find her guards fast asleep and surrounded by hippos.

She loved the mountain views of the Flathead Valley and particularly the Swan River. At 94, she kayaked the Swan and always looked forward to celebrating holidays and birthdays on the Swan with family and friends. She really appreciated the sense of community inspired by the Bigfork Fourth of July parade.

Debbie was president of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Maryland, a member of the Society of the Descendants of the Mayflower, and the Hingham Historical Society. She was a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers and the National Association of Parliamentarians. At 101, she rewrote the by-laws for Buffalo Hill Terrace residents. She enjoyed tracing the family genealogy and took the time to write a life story to share her history with future generations.

Her skills in social work were constantly utilized. She had the willingness to listen and support. Family, friends and aides all marveled at her capacity to have interest in their lives and appreciated the support she provided through small gifts and their positive impact. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren still shared personal accomplishments such as promotions, dean’s list or gymnastic performances. Her pleasure came in helping others overcome life’s obstacles and appreciating the power of love and caring.

Until recently, she daily communicated through her computer and cell phone, working hard at staying current with today’s trends. Even at the end, her first questions were normally, “What is important that happened in the world today that I should know about?” and “What do you have planned today?”

Surviving are three children, Julia Wilson Meldau and husband Fred from Virginia, Henry Weber Wilson and wife Jill from Rhode Island, and Harry Wilson and wife Holly from Montana. In addition, there are seven grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. She will be missed by all for her insights and interest in everyone’s pursuits.

Inurnment will be private at the Arlington National Cemetery where her ashes will be in the same niche as her husband.

Her favorite charity is the Nature Conservancy, 4245 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, Virginia 22203.