Jean Wightman

Norma Jean (Briggs) Wightman, age 90, died January 18, at Eventide, Fargo. She was born in Northwest Iowa to Lester and Veronica Briggs. Jean and her younger sister Joyce were raised on a farm, educated through 8th grade in a one-room school ¼ mile away. They graduated from Marcus High School.

In 1945, Jean joined the Army Cadet Corps as a student nurse, graduating in 1948 from St. Luke’s Methodist Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa. It was there she met her future husband, DD Wightman, who was working as an orderly while attending Morningside College. They were married Dec. 1948, later moving to Iowa City, where Jean worked as an RN for 4 years while DD attended University of Iowa, graduating in hospital administration. He then served 3 years in the Army in hospitals in Denver (where their son, David, was born), in Vietnam and Japan while Jean continued working in nursing. On discharge, they moved to Boone, Iowa for 8 years and where daughter, Lori, was born in 1960.

The family moved to Fargo in 1964 when DD became CEO of Dakota Hospital, continuing in that position until 1990. During the years at Dakota, Jean was very active in the Hospital Auxiliary. They were members of First United Methodist Church.

After retirement, DD and Jean enjoyed traveling, winter in Bonita Springs, FL, and summers at their lake place on Lake Trowbridge until DD’s death at age 75 in 2004. Jean continued to live in Fargo with her beloved dogs, Willy, Lucky, and Carly, and volunteered at Essentia Hospital gift shop.

She is survived by son, David (Michelle), Fargo; daughter, Lori (Darren), Ada, OK; granddaughter, Melissa; one sister, Joyce Saults, Phoenix, AZ; one niece and 3 nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, granddaughter, Paige, and countless special dogs.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Dakota Medical Foundation/ LEND A HAND or Homeward Animal Shelter, Fargo.