Wilma M (Gross) Lylyk

Wilma Mae (Gross) Lylyk, age 80, Dawson, MN, formerly of the Bradley Community, died in the Johnson Memorial Home in Dawson, MN on Sunday, September 6, 2009. She was the widow of LeRoy "Bud" Gross. A Celebration of Life/Sharing time will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 11:30 AM in the Bradley Community Center at Bradley, SD. A family burial of her ashes in the Prairie Hill Cemetery at Bradley will be held prior to the sharing time. She was born at Battle Creek, MI on May 19, 1929, the daughter of Robert E. and Letha (Yost) Evans. She grew to adulthood in the Battle Creek area graduating from Battle Creek High School. She then attended Kellogg Community College at Battle Creek and then Northern State University at Aberdeen. During the war she was a riveter on the B52 Bombers and was also a volunteer at Percy Jones Army Hospital also in Battle Creek. This is where she met the love of her life LeRoy (Bud) Gross, Sr. They were married on June 7, 1947. To this union three children were born, LeRoy, Jr., Susan and Jill. In 1962 the couple moved to Bradley, SD where they built and ran a gas station and caf in Crocker, SD. Upon closing this business they moved several times with Buds employment. He died in an automobile accident on February 15, 1971. Wilma then went to work in Redfield at the State School. She then moved to Sioux Falls and was an admissions and travel clerk at the VA Hospital, later being transferred to Minneapolis and then to New York. Her love for cooking and traveling led her on many adventures. She lived in South Dakota, Florida, Mississippi, Wyoming and then to Canada. While in Canada she married John Lylyk. Later she became a licensed chef which brought her many opportunities. Her cooking career in Canada included working in a bush camp for INCO Mining to cooking for a fine hotel and restaurant in Winnipeg. Some of her hobbies included reading cookbooks, cooking for family and friends, crocheting afghans for family and friends and reading. She also enjoyed watching the news and baseball and enjoyed learning and discussing politics. Wilma will long be remembered for helping others. Preceding her in death were her parents, husband LeRoy A. Gross, Sr, a daughter, Jill Mills, sisters, Roberta Cagle and Lillian Weigand and brothers, David and Robert Evans, Jr. and several brothers and sisters-in-law. Survivors include a daughter Susan (Carol) Benike of Dawson, MN, a son, LeRoy Jr. (Carol) Gross of Watertown, SD, grandchildren, Melissa, Kristen, Reese, Megan, LeRoy III, Lori, Lynette and Lance, 13 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews and many family members on the Gross side. Furness Funeral Home of Clark is assisting the family with the arrangements. www.furnessfuneralhome.com to sign an on-line registry.