Ila Pearl Wiedemer, 88, Deadwood, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, April 26, 2015, at Our House Assisted Living in Sturgis.

Ila was born January 1, 1927, in Santa Barbara, CA, to Myrtle and Albert (Wilbur) O'Neil. She spent her early years during the hard depression era shuttled between relatives after her parents divorced. She finished high school at the Girls Polytech in Portland, OR. World War II was on and she met and married a handsome young sailor from South Dakota, Richard Raymond Wiedemer. Four years later, a son was born on July 2, 1949. The family lived in Vancouver, WA, Ilwaco, WA, and Tulelake, CA, before returning to "Dick's" South Dakota roots. They settled the family in Fort Pierre, SD, where Dick ran his own construction company for forty plus years. Ila started her museum career volunteering at the Verendrye Museum in Ft Pierre and then working for the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre, SD, for 25 years. Her love of history and books showed in her passion for antiques, artifacts, and South Dakota history. Even in her last days with rapidly declining health, she still enjoyed reading history books.

Ila is survived by her son, Donald (Melinda) Wiedemer, Deadwood; her grandson, Chad (Jenny) Seidel, and their children, Tyler and Shania, Pierre, SD; and an extended family of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Richard, and their parents.

Visitation will be held Thursday April 30, 2015, from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. with a graveside service to be held at 11:30 a.m. at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis with Pastor Gordon Phillips officiating.

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