Wilma Bryne

Wilma Bryne, 101, of Sioux City, passed away Tuesday, May 9, 2017, at Sunrise Retirement Community.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Morningside Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Tom LoVan officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home. Condolences may be offered online at www.christysmith.com .
Wilma was born on Jan. 28, 1916, to Ludwig and Esther (Moberg) Erickson, on a farm near Beresford, S.D. One of five children, she attended country school and was baptized and confirmed at Rosini Lutheran Church.
As a young woman, she moved to Sioux City where she met Gus Bryne. They were married on April 29, 1939 and to this union a son and daughter were born. In 1947, the family moved to Morningside from the west side of Sioux City and a few years later moved into their long-time residence at 710 S. Alice. Gus and Wilma were married for 56 years when he passed away in 1994. In 2003, Wilma moved to the Sunrise Retirement Community.
Over the course of her life, she worked part-time at Sorenson Candy (now Palmer Candy), Sioux City Battery, Johnson Biscuit, and J.C. Penney's, however, she was always a full-time homemaker extraordinaire. The love of her Lord, her family and friends were always the focus of Wilma's life.
A member of Morningside Lutheran Church for more than 70 years, Wilma was actively involved in many areas of ministry including Ladies Aid, altar guild, as treasurer, and teaching Sunday and Bible school. Later in life, she made hundreds of mission quilts as part of the Morning Glories Sewing group.
Wilma loved hand work from sewing to embroidery to crocheting. Through the years, she crocheted dozens of afghans for family and friends, especially as wedding and baby gifts.
Through the Sons of Norway Lodge, she was introduced to the Norwegian folk crafts of Rosemalling and Hardanger. One of Wilma's greatest accomplishments was mastering the intricate Norwegian embroidery of Hardanger. In 2000, she was awarded first place for a beautiful piece she created, which was entered in the International Hardanger contest in Stavanger, Norway. She was very generous with her completed Hardanger pieces, sharing them with family and friends. Her family especially cherishes the bridal bouquet inserts designed for her grandchildren and the baptismal napkins for the great-grandchildren.
She discovered the Red Hat organization while visiting her son and family in California. Upon returning to Sioux City, she organized a local, (and still active), chapter called the Crimson Belles, becoming the group's first Grand Mum. Wilma also loved to play cards, especially Rook and 500, however failing eyesight and hearing caused her to give up these beloved hobbies and activities.
She is survived by her son, Rich Bryne and his wife, Chris of Granada Hills, Calif.; her daughter, Jeanette Sanford and her husband, Greg of Sergeant Bluff; sister, Fern Bryne of Sioux City: grandchildren, Jeff Sanford (Karen) of Harrisburg, Pa., Betsy Lingbeck (Brad) of Ramona, S.D., Anjeanette Emeka (Amon) of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Sareen Carrasco (Lucas) of Bakersfield, Calif., Jason Bryne (Wendy) of Santa Clarita, Calif., Traci Winters (Shawn) of Sergeant Bluff, and Kelli Sanford of Sioux City: 15 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and many friends and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by husband, Gus Bryne in 1994; her parents; two brothers; a sister; and five nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Sunrise Retirement Community, Morningside Lutheran Church or Hospice of Siouxland.