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Sheila Williams, age 68, of Fargo, ND passed away peacefully on Friday, January 13, 2023, at Essentia Health in Fargo, surrounded by her family.
Sheila Rae Williams was born on October 27, 1954, in Jamestown, ND to Lowell A. and Aneta (Kamphuis) Williams. Sheila grew up and attended school in Wimbledon, ND, graduating from Wimbledon High School in 1972. She attended NDSU and worked for a short time at Straus Tailor Shop in Fargo. She worked for 25+ years at Blue Cross Blue Shield in various roles, but most recently as a Claims Processor and Telecommuter, retiring for the last time in 2018. Sheila always seemed to keep herself busy with side jobs in the hospitality industry serving others.
If you knew Sheila, you knew that retirement did not mean relaxing or slowing her pace. She was active in planning the social events within her condo building and always looking for an opportunity to serve in the kitchen. She was an active member of Calvary United Methodist Church. From a very early age, Sheila learned from her mother that food nourishes the soul and brings people together. Sheila spent many hours over the years volunteering in kitchens at her church, Churches United for the Homeless and most recently at Stepping Stones Resource Center, earning her first title as the “Kitchen Lady”. She began her time there cooking one meal per month which led to one meal per week. She was also affectionately known as the “Church Lady” to those she served and to her those were “Her kids”. She looked for every opportunity to spoil children especially her nieces and nephews and their children. Even as her health declined and she was no longer able to cook for her Stepping Stones Family, she made a point to collect items and food donations that would be of use. Sheila not only had a personal passion for helping others whenever possible but was also often inspiring others to get involved in her volunteer missions. Sheila truly emulated the statement, “It takes a Village” to serve.
Family, faith, and friends were all very important to Sheila. Whether it was reaching out for a favor or just checking on your day, you could always count on a message or a call from her. Sheila was a very social person who loved her family and friends fiercely.
She truly believed in service before self and was often placing others’ needs before her own. Even in her failing health, she refused to accept the ultimate gift of life (transplant) if it meant taking from others especially others that were younger than her.
Sheila was preceded in death by her parents; grandparents; two siblings, Judy Williams, and Ken Williams; and a nephew, Justin Williams.
Sheila is survived by her sister, Brenda Williams of Fargo, ND; sister-in-law, Marsha Williams of Underwood, MN; nieces and nephews, Tyler (Cristin) Williams Reiles Acres, ND; Tanya (Evan) Westra of Battle Lake, MN; Mike (Teresa) Reimers of West Fargo, ND; Lindsay (fiancé Kyle Weeg) Gruhlke of Baltic, SD; niece-in-law, Cortnie Smith of Jamestown, ND; and several great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Stepping Stones Resource Center/Fraser Ltd, Prairie View Cemetery or Calvary United Methodist Church.
Service: Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023 at 5:30 PM at West Funeral Home, West Fargo with visitation from 4:30 to 6:30. A reception and celebration of Sheila’s life will follow at the West Fargo VFW.
Burial: Prairie View Cemetery, Wimbledon at a later date.
West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center
westfuneralhome.com
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