Bennie W. Wilde

Bennie W. Wilde, age 85, of Bethel passed away Tuesday evening, September 30, 2008
at Shannon Medical Center in San Angelo.

He was born November 3, 1922 in Pony, Texas to William H. and Anna Gully Wilde, a pioneering West Texas farm family. He attended school in Bethel and in Ballinger.
He married Alice Cecilia Moeller on April 7, 1948 in Rowena and farmed in the Bethel, Millersview, Wall, and St. Lawrence area all his life. He was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church in Olfen and served several terms on the St. Boniface Parish Council. He was also a longtime member of Olfen Knights of Columbus Council #2772, serving two years as Grand Knight, was a member of the Ballinger Riding Club, and an active 4-H leader. Bennie was recognized as the Soil Conservation Farmer of the Year in 1969 and received the Range Management Award in 1974.

Bennie loved to cook for friends and to hunt deer. The family noted that he knew most of his cattle by name. He was never known to complain about too much rain, and if it did rain too much, he would say, “Isn’t it wonderful?” You never met a man who loved to drive in a pickup as much as Bennie Wilde, nor a man who enjoyed a cup of keg beer the way he did. He also enjoyed trips to Germany and Mexico with his wife and family.

He was preceded in death by three sisters, Mary Wilde, Stella Schwartz, and Cora Dierschke, and brothers, Elo Wilde, Fenton Wilde, and Ed Wilde.

Bennie is survived by his wife, Alice; his children, Judy Appelt and husband, Larry, of Hallettsville; Fred Wilde and wife, Debra, of Ballinger; Ann Nobles and husband, Nickie, of Katemcy; Karla Wilde and Joe Wilde both of San Angelo. Also surviving are grandchildren, Derek, Kelli, and Scott Appelt; Brooke, Clint, and Gina Wilde; and Frances Nobles; sisters-in-law, Velma Wilde of Rowena, Cordula Wilde of Wall, Mary Moeller of Ballinger; and brother-in-law, Roman Multer of Rowena.

Rosary will be recited Thursday, October 2 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Olfen. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, October 3 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Boniface Church with Msgr. Benedict Zientek and Fr. Bhaskar Morugudi officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Grandchildren will serve as pallbearers along with Harvey Wilde and Charles Moeller. Honorary pallbearers will be Olfen Knights of Columbus.

The family would like to thank Dr. Denver Marsh, Dr. Coughlin, Dr. Westmoreland, and all the medical staff and friends who helped and cared for Bennie. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be made to St. Boniface Cemetery Fund or the American Heart Association.