George Marelius Wilder (1915 - 2005)

Born 1 Jan 1915 in Williston, Williams, North Dakota, United States

Husband of Cordelia (Markuson) Wilder — married 10 Nov 1945 (to 12 Nov 1994) in Sidney, Montana

Died 11 Dec 2005 at age 90 in Williston, Williams, North Dakota, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Lori Markuson [send private message]

Biography

George Marelius Wilder was born January 12, 1915 in Williston to Donald Truman Wilder and Eva Helena (Marelius) Wilder. He began his schooling at Twin Lake School and graduated from Williston High School with the Class of 1936.

For a time he did farm work, worked with the WPA, was a truck driver for Standard Oil Company, and was on a survey crew working with Willard Webster.

On September 28, 1942, George enlisted in the Army Air Corp. During WWII, he trained in radio school at Scott Field, IL, joined a crew at a glider test base at Wright Field, transferred to Muros Air Base (now Edwards) and was discharged at Santa Anna Air base in California on February 4, 1946.

He married Cordelia "Deal" Markuson in Sidney, MT on November 10, 1945.

Upon returning from the war he worked at the Post Office for eight years until 1954 when he started Model Drive In Cleaners with his brother, Jerry. They later began Northwest Supply Co. in the early 1960's. For several years he owned and operated with his sister, Shirley Sommars, the Rustle-Inn Cabins. He retired from the cleaning business in May of 1976. During his supposed retirement, he painted houses and had a snowblowing business for many years.

He was a member of Faith United Methodist Church and the American Legion. George was quite musical. As a young man he was a member of a dance band, the "Swingsters." He was an original member of the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps under the direction of Virgil Syverson. In addition to playing the bugle with the Corps, he was also gifted with the piano, organ and accordion.

He also liked to garden and would help Cordelia with the canning. In the late 1990's George took up quilt-making, and made quilts for all of his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings and friends.

George passed away on December 11, 2005. He is buried at Hillside Memory Gardens, Williston, North Dakota.

Sources

Private family history collection