Hildagard "Toots" Wood, age 87, formerly of Murdock, died Thursday, March 19, 2015, at the Swift County Benson Hospital in Benson, MN. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, March 28, 2015, with visitation one hour prior, at the Evangelical Free Church in Benson. Burial will be in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls, MN. Hildagard "Toots" Wood was born February 4, 1928 in Bowdle, South Dakota to John and Frieda (Haar) Wald and grew up in Bowdle and Java, South Dakota. She was baptized September 2, 1928 by Pastor O. Felberg and confirmed June 21, 1942 by Rev. E. Bettenhausen at the Congregational Church in Java. On July 27, 1946, Toots was united in marriage to Martin Bradford Wood by Rev. Alvin Nickelson in Litchfield, Minnesota. This union was blessed with more than 62 years of marriage, 5 children, 16 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. Toots was an avid flower gardener and a curious bird watcher. She loved working in her yard and her many flower beds. She was a huge animal lover, both large and small. She was especially fond of cats. Toots was a faithful journalist. She journaled daily for years, and settled many an argument in the community about what happened when! She truly enjoyed the many years of daily coffee and conversations with the community ladies. Toots was a member of the Garden Club, Homemakers Club and VFW Ladies Auxiliary, which she served as Auxiliary Treasurer for many years. She also served as an Election Judge and helped with the community Blood Mobile Drives and Annual Flower Shows. She worked several years as a waitress in Johnson's Café in Murdock. Among the things she enjoyed were traveling, camping, dancing, playing cards, crocheting, music, bowling, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, and attending the sporting events while the kids were in school. Toots and Martin were long-time "snow birds", traveling to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas where they had their winter home. Toots loved hosting gatherings, whether it be family or friends, the more the merrier! She will be greatly missed by many. Toots is survived by her children: Karen (Bill) Eckhart of Murdock, Brad (Cindy) Wood of Murdock, Dennis (Susan Aaberg) Wood of Gautier, MS, Doug (Patty Osterbauer) Wood of Minneapolis, and Beverly (Galen) Henjum of Kerkhoven; 16 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Martin B. Wood on December 31, 2008; parents, John and Frieda Wald; and brother, Raymond "Cy" Wald.
