Wilda Mae (Buller) Nightengale

Our mother, Wilda Mae (Buller) Nightengale was born to Menno and Edna (Schroeder) Buller on December 6, 1941 in Foley, Alabama. She peacefully entered into rest October 21, 2025 at Memorial Medical Center in Modesto, California, with her son gently holding her hand.

Mom heeded the call of the Lord, and upon repentance and confession of faith was baptized by Minister, Ervin Nightengale on November 12, 1952 into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, Scott City, KS. Mom was faithful to her vows until the end. She moved often throughout her life, beginning in Alabama and later living in California, Colorado, and Western Kansas before settling in California for her remaining years. Dad and mom were married August 30, 1964 in Livingston, CA. They enjoyed sixty-one years of life together. To this union was born three daughters and one son.

Our parents’ love was the foundation of our home, and we always felt its strength. Time spent with her children and grandchildren were special times. Mom’s gifts, her hands skilled in baking and sewing, were more than talents; they were her way of nurturing and showing love to those closest to her and many others.  Her visits to town often included spontaneous conversations with strangers, a reflection of her open heart and kind spirit.

Among the heartaches of her early life were the untimely passings of her teenage brothers, Roland and Russell, and her nephew Greg, each deeply mourned. This left a tremendous impact on mom and her love for others. Mom became a prayer warrior, praying often for her children and many others.

Mom lived nearly four years at Grace Home, Livingston, California where she made many friends with fellow residents, caregivers, and visitors, especially small children who claimed her as a grandma.

Those left to mourn her passing are her husband Sid, Atwater, CA, four children, Sidra and Bruce Smith, Montezuma, KS, Lisa and Philip Warkentin, Atwater, Julie and Marshall Nightengale, Caldwell, ID, and Kendall and Kara Nightengale, Winton, nine grandchildren, Austin Nightengale, Andrew Smith, Lauren & Philip Potgieter, Trevor and Annie Smith, Brooke and Jake Shetler, Kiahna and Peter Klassen, Arianna Nightengale, Seth and Wendy Warkentin, Jessie Mae Warkentin, five great grandchildren, one brother, Floyd and Pat Buller, Amarillo, TX and one brother-in-law Gary and Mary Nightengale, Pismo, three sister-in-laws, Kathryn and Laverne Schmidt, Gloria Buller, Marilyn and Howard Martin, and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death are her parents, six brothers, one sister, her parents-in-law, and one brother-in-law.

Special thanks to all the staff who cared for her at Grace Home, she felt dearly loved and for that we are grateful.

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