Frances ‘Fran’ Wyland, 97

DEL NORTE— Frances “Fran” Wyland passed away March 19, 2019 at the River Valley Inn Nursing Home in Del Norte. She was a 97 years old and had lived in Monte Vista most of her life.

Fran was born in Salida in August 1921, to Frances and Ignatz Yunikar and grew up on the family ranch near Poncha Springs. She married Hubert “Hubie” Wyland in Taos, N.M. in September 1946, and they were married for over 61 years until Hubie’s passing in 2008.

Fran was a devoted mother and grandmother who loved to pass on her skills in sewing beautiful quilts and baking incredible strudel to her children. She gave many years of service to 4-H clubs, teaching many young seamstresses a perfect hem stitch. She and Hubie took delight in their garden and turned their home west of Monte Vista into a little Eden. She loved the outdoors and spending time at the cabin Hubie built in Legion Park near South Fork.

Fran is survived by her daughters Jan Shriver Wyland of Longmont and Shelley (Chuck) Whitmer of Del Norte; grandchildren Stacy (Cary Stanfield) of Morrison; Becky (Chris Olberding) of Longmont; Jennifer (Jamie Tatch) of Kings Langley, UK; Zach Whitmer of Monte Vista and Sam Whitmer of Fort Collins; three great grandchildren and a sister.

She was preceded in death by husband, Hubert Wyland, parents, brothers, sisters and a great granddaughter.

A memorial mass will be celebrated on Saturday, March 30 at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Monte Vista. Recitation of the Rosary will be at the church on Friday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m. Inurnment will follow the service on Saturday, March 30 at Homelake cemetery.