Florence E. Wilde

Florence E. Wilde, age 88, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at a local care center.  Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, February 2, 2026 at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Watertown.  She was the widow of William "Bill" Wilde.  Father John Fischer will be the celebrant. 

Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Sunday, February, 1, 2026, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. with a prayer service starting at 4:00 p.m.

Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Watertown. Pallbearers will be her grandchildren, Zachary, Ava, Luke Farley, Molly, Peter, Jack, Jacob, William, Nicole, Emily, Patrick, and Bridget Wilde.

Florence was born on June 28, 1937, in Waubay, SD, to Anton and Anna (Gruby) Kulesa. She graduated from Waubay High School and then attended Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, SD, where she obtained a teaching degree.  Following graduation she taught in a one room school northwest of Aberdeen. 

On August 20, 1960, Florence married William “Bill” Wilde in Waubay, SD.  The couple lived in Aberdeen and Pierre before moving to Watertown in 1966. 

Florence and Bill were founding members of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church and were active members.  She spent 27 years working for the Watertown Public Opinion, delivering newspapers and also worked for the Watertown School District as a playground supervisor.  She was a Cub Scout leader while her boys were active in Cub Scouts. 

Florence is survived by her children, Mary (Keith) Farley, of Annapolis, MD, John (Cindy) Wilde, of Niskayuna, NY, Joseph (Kerry) Wilde, of Fort Collins, CO, Thomas (Paula) Wilde, of Watertown, SD, and Michael (Monica) Wilde, of Sioux Falls, SD; her grandchildren, Zachary, Ava, Luke Farley, Molly, Peter, Jack, Jacob, William, Nicole, Emily, Patrick, and Bridget Wilde; two brothers, Anthony (Joanna) Kulesa, of Paso Robles, CA, and Ralph (Colleen) Kulesa, of Lake Elmo, MN; one sister, Jane (Tom) Johnson, of Pierre, SD; two brothers-in-law, John Rumpca, of Cottage Grove, MN, and Tim Sorsen, of Plankinton, SD; and one sister-in-law, Barb Kulesa, of Cottage Grove, MN.

Florence was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her parents, Anton and Anna; one brother, Donald Kulesa; and two sisters, Adeline Rumpca, and Anne Sorsen.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to:

Camp Gilbert (for children with Type 1 diabetes)

C/O Michael Wilde

909 East Libby Lane

Sioux Falls, SD 57108

Ave Maria Catholic School

Www.avemariapostorate.org/catholic school

412 2nd St. NE

Watertown, SD 57201

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown and Hayti

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