Wilma Frances Pieren

Wilma Frances (Day) Pieren was born January 10th, 1929 in Sturgis, Kentucky and passed away October 27th, 2022 in Hillsboro, Oregon. Wilma and her twin brother, Wildon Henry, were the second-born to Curtis and Sarah (Rudd) Day following their older sister, Atha. After Wilma & Wildon, brothers William Joseph and James David were born.

Wilma’s family embraced the Gospel, and as a young girl Wilma made her choice to follow Jesus—a choice that became a lifelong love and commitment to which she was faithful the rest of her life. Wilma’s parents had a fellowship meeting in their home, and it was in those meetings that she met Clarence Pieren. Clarence was a young soldier from Oregon who was stationed at nearby Camp Breckenridge, an army camp that served as a training ground for soldiers being deployed overseas during the Second World War. Wilma’s mother told her she would “love to have a son-in-law like him someday.” After the war, Clarence returned home to Oregon where he waited for Wilma—thirteen years younger than he—to grow up.

Clarence & Wilma were married June 8th, 1950, in Evansville, Indiana. Wilma left everything but her Kentucky “English” to become a farm wife in Oregon. She and Clarence made their home in North Plains until 1959, when they moved to his family’s farm in Helvetia. It was there that they raised their four children: Rayetta, Wayne, Curtis, and Ronda and spent the rest of their 55 years together.

Wilma grew up during the Great Depression and she often recalled their mother cooking a large pot of beans to feed the destitute folks who wandered past from the nearby railroad. This trait of cooking and feeding others was something Wilma inherited from her mother; she loved to cook and bake and was fond of feeding family and friends alike. She was a homemaker for most of her life, but did some seasonal work at the local Birdseye Cannery, and cooked lunch for a number of years at West Union School.

Wilma had many interests; she loved reading, doing puzzles, and—most of all—quilting. She loved visiting and entertaining her many friends. Wilma’s last years were spent at Cornell Estates, in Hillsboro where she appreciated the company and care of many new friends.

Wilma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Clarence; her brothers Wildon and James; her sister, Atha; and her son, Curtis.

She is survived by her brother, William “Joe” Day and wife, Charlotte of Evansville, Indiana; sisters-in law, Glendeen of Colorado, and Barbara of Tennessee; her daughter, Rayetta Sperl and husband, Duane of Hillsboro; her son, Wayne and wife, Judy of Helvetia; her daughter-in-law, Lisa, of Beaverton; daughter, Ronda Tolley and husband, Brian of Yuma, Arizona; nine grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews, and many friends.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m., Friday, November 4, 2022 at the Fir Lawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home, 1070 West Main Street, Hillsboro, OR 97123. Viewing will be held one hour prior to the services. Graveside services will follow at the Helvetia Cemetery where Wilma will be laid to rest with her husband Clarence.