Wilhelmine D. (Mrs. Edward) La Budde was born in the Elkhart Lake area in Wisconsin (?), but is best known for her work in Milwaukee in behalf of conservation. She became a leader in conservation for the Milwaukee County Federation of Women's Clubs during the 1920s. In 1930, she became state conservation chairman for the Federation, a position she held for over a decade. While conservation chairman, Mrs. La Budde aroused the interest of the women of the state and the nation in conservation. She received an award in 1935 for outstanding conservation work among club women as a consequence of her having instituted a conservation education program. Mrs. La Budde worked to make the teaching of conservation in the schools compulsory, campaigned for the restoration of Horicon Marsh, lobbied for a resident fishing license bill, planned tours to show the devastation of forest lands by fire and by lumber companies, and worked for reforestation and the preservation of tracts of virgin timber. In 1937, she was appointed the first woman member of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress.
Mrs. La Budde also furthered the cause of conservation by her membership or holding of office in many conservation organizations. She was a member of the League of Women Voters, the National Wildlife Federation, the Wisconsin Conservation Education Association, Friends of the Land, the Women's Fortnightly Club, the Milwaukee County Conservation Alliance, the Citizens Natural Resources Association, and the American Forestry Association; and was also an honorary member of the Blue Ox, a conservation group.
Mrs. La Budde was, besides conservation chairman for the Wisconsin Federation of Women's Clubs, a vice-president and director of the Wisconsin Conservation League, for which she was also legislative chairman for 1942 to 1955, and chairman of “Indian Welfare” for the Wisconsin chapter of the Izaak Walton League.
Mrs. La Budde died in Milwaukee in 1955, at the age of 74. She was survived by her husband, and three children: George, Margaret (Mrs. Parry), and Alice (Mrs. O'Connell).
