Wanda Beth DeMersseman Whiting on the 28th of November, 2022, quietly "exchanged the temporary for an eternal condition," an expression used by her great-grandfather from Holland. She was 95. Born March 25, 1927 in Clarkfield, Minnesota, she was the seventh and youngest child of Earl and Clara Irene Demersseman. She had a little Scottish plaid outfit she wore as a girl and her family started calling her "Scottie". The nickname stuck and she preferred it over "Wanda". She is survived by her five children and their families, including 10 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren, as well as numerous beloved nieces and nephews and their families. Her children are Mark Whiting (Catherine Fox), Ann House, Elizabeth Burnett (Charles), Mary Johnson (Thomas) and Jonathan Whiting. She had many "adopted children" as well, including Claudia Goodman from Columbia. Her parents, her siblings and a son-in-law, Fred House, as well as her husband, Carlos Seward Whiting, predeceased her.

She particularly enjoyed family reunions and traveling to her favorite places in Clarkfield, Hazel Run and Otter Tail Lake, Minnesota.  She loved Bryce Canyon and had wonderful adventures in New Zealand, China and Norway.

She loved seeing her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and the families of her "adopted" children.  She was very proud of them and what good people and parents they have become.

She often served others, including housing and feeding many guests. She enjoyed finding fresh corn and peaches and bringing them to friends and neighbors. She had many fun stories to tell of her life and her family and was especially good at sharing helpful advice and wise sayings.  Recently she shared, "A mother's world is her children, but to her children, a mother is their world!"  She was a great influence and example for us of love, acceptance and caring for others.

She graduated in English from Macalester College and then traveled by train to marry Carlos in Washington, DC in 1950. She met Carlos in Minneapolis at the Presbyterian church and they dated for several years. She lived for almost 40 years in Maryland, participating in community and political activities. She was an election judge on every election day. She worked for candidates she admired, and fought for equal and civil rights for all.

She and Carlos moved to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1989 to be closer to two daughters and their families. She volunteered for several years teaching handwriting to students at West High School, teaching them to write famous quotes and words to live by. She was loved by the teachers and students she visited at the school and always admired for her beautiful handwriting.

She was accomplished at cooking and sewing, often staying up late at night to finish sewing matching dresses for her three little girls. She was very economical and got her children to help cut coupons, save green stamps, and work in the garden.

She says she began loving Jesus Christ as a young girl listening to her own mother who taught her Sunday School class. She loved the Protesant hymns she learned as a youth, and also performed songs and poetry for her mother's Christian temperance group.  When missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints knocked on her door as a young married woman, she was attracted to their teachings. She particularly liked the belief that families could be together forever. She would have joined soon thereafter, but it took her husband about 10 years to decide to join.  She became a beloved teacher and leader in the church, a good friend and a second mother to many.

Lately, she enjoyed saying "I've had such a wonderful life, and would do it all over again!"

A private family service will be held, with a public memorial service to be held in the spring.  We'd love to have you share your memories with us.