Lona Wilson, 89
Lona Harless Wilson, 89, maiden name Harless, was born Sept. 10, 1934 in Portland, Oregon, and passed peacefully in her sleep after a six month battle with cancer on Oct. 16, 2023 at her lakeside home in Bigfork, Montana.
She was born to Mildred (Millie) and Fenton Harless. She greatly admired her mother, a shop owner in Molalla, Oregon, as she kept the family afloat during tough times. Millie engrained in Lona the importance of education, hard work, and financial independence.
She leaves behind her son, Scott Wilson of Vallejo, California; her daughter-in-law, Stacy Wilson of Bigfork, Montana; and her two grandchildren, Taylor Wilson and Jacob Wilson.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Richard (Dick) Wilson; her son, Todd Wilson; and her daughter, Carolyn Wilson.
She was educated at both Oregon State University, where she met her husband Dick, and Stanford. She was a Physical Therapist by trade.
Early on in their marriage, Lona and Dick lived in San Diego and Hawaii, while Dick spent time in the Navy as a Naval Pilot. Upon completion of his service, they moved to Modesto, California, where Dick could begin working for E&J Gallo Winery. Here, they raised their three children. When Dick retired after 36 years of service, they moved to Dick’s childhood hometown of Bigfork, MT. This was their primary residence for rest of their lives, spending winters in Mesquite, Nevada, for a handful of years (to golf year-round, of course).
Lona and Dick loved to travel and shared many adventures, visiting all seven continents. Their love for travel and sailing took them to many exotic places and they circumnavigated the globe from 1991 to 1993.
She was a great tennis player, golfer, sailor, diver, card player and made a mean chocolate pie. She loved pugs and had many throughout her life. She will be remembered by her friends and family as an intelligent, loving, competitive person, with an endless drive to better herself though education and sport.
She donated annually to both Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org) and St. Jude Children’s Hospital (stjude.org). In lieu of flowers or cards, please consider donating to either organization in her name.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date in Montana.