Laurel outlook., 1946-07-10
DEATH TAKES EARLY
RESIDENT OF STATE
Mrs. T. L. Wilkins Came To
Montana In 1887, To Laurel
In 1902-Burial Is July 2

(The following concerning the
late Mrs. T. L. wilkins of Laurel,
resident of Montana since 1887
and who died June 80, is by Mrs.
o. c.. Cooper, for many years a
close friend of Mrs. Cooper.-Ed-
itor.)
On June 80 Mrs. Blanche C. Will
kins, "a, passed away at st. Vim
cent hospital, Billings, which she
had entered June %.
She was born Jan. Is, 1872, in
The Dalles, Ore, a daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. Michael Relling. Her
early education was obtained in
Sacred Heart Academy at Baker,
Ore. When Is years of age she
came to Madison county, Mont, by
the covered wagon route. On Oct.
%, 1888, she was married to
Theodore L. Wilkins at Bozeman,
Mont. They celebrated their golden
wedding anniversary eight years
ago at the home of their son, DR..
Howard Wilkins, in Helena.
She continued her earlier studies
along historical lines, making eX-
tensive studies of foreign lands,
collecting a great amount of inter
esting data of different countries.
There was no highway bridge
across the Yellowstone river when
Mr.. and Mrs. Wilkins came to live
on their ranch south of Laurel in
1902. Here as in Madison county
"the house by the side of the road"
was a place where the weary trav-
eler rested both man and beast. |
The town was very small, only one
store. There were no shipped-in
fresh vegetables in those days, and
it was with a mixture of pride and
joy that her sons walked across
the railroad bridge and on to town
with the first fresh vegetables to
be sold in Laurel.
The enterprise grew and Mrs.
Wilkins became known throughout
the state as a grower and exhibitor
IF fine vegetables and flowers.
Hers was a creative nature; for
several years she made an intensive
study of roses, collecting much val
liable data. However, not being
able to reach her goal because of
soil and climatic conditions she
transferred her study to dahlias of
which she had a large collection
Until few years ago. She had
great many fine specimens and had
developed one from pollination
which she had hoped to perfect.
Mrs. Wilkins was a charter mem
yer and past president of the Lau-
el Garden club and gave freely of
Ter knowledge of botanical subjects
o the membership. Mention should
e made of several fine specimens
f needlework she has passed on
o her family which reveal the same
owe of beauty and perfection of
etail observed in her floral work.
Mr.. and Mrs. Wilkins moved to
IL East First street last Novem-
er.
Besides her husband she is sur
lived by her sons, Roy C. and
.eslie Wilkins of Los Angeles; DR..
Toward Wilkins of Helena; a
aughter, Sister Jean Marie, o. S.
J., of Miles City; a brother, Leo
telling; two half-brothers, Sidney
nd Eugene Bowen of Oregon; three
listers, Mrs. Celestine Looming and
liss Euphrosyne Bowen of Oregon,
nd Mrs. Angela Conway of Long
leach, Calf, six grandchildren and
even great grandchildren.
Rosary was recited in the Setter
rem chapel at 1880 Monday even
lg. Mass was said at 10 a. m.
uesday, July 2, at st. Anthony's
atholic church in Laurel by the
ev. T. O'Shea, pastor. Burial was
Montview cemetery in Billings.
Pallbearers were George Herbert
Billings, Charles Martin of Park
ity, and Fred Hilgert, E. K.
fright, Frank Parker and o. C.
ooper of Laurel.