Dorothy Willard

D orothy W illard passed away at the North Platte Care Center on March 17, 2024, at the age of 95.

Dorothy, the daughter of Milton and Edna Collins, was born in Lincoln County on March 20, 1928.  She grew up in North Platte where she graduated from high school in 1945 then helped her dad with his insulation business.

On February 3, 1946, Dorothy married Lynn Willard at the Methodist Church in North Platte.  For the first few years of married life, they rented a farm and worked the land then moved to Marino, CO, in 1954 and continued farming.  They farmed in various Colorado locations before returning to Nebraska in 1966.  The Willard's first lived in Hershey then moved to Garfield Table Road, near Stapleton, and resided there for nearly 45 years.  In 2014 they moved back to North Platte and Lynn passed away the following year.

Dorothy was a longtime member of First Christian Church where she was a Diaconate, Church Board Secretary, Chairman of the Fellowship Committee, and served in the Group 2 Circle.  She looked forward to exercising at the Rec Center and dancing at the Senior Center with her brother, Lewis.  Dorothy and Lynn also enjoyed dancing and were members of Good Time Dancers and Nebraska Camp and Dancers, and they liked traveling to camp outs.

Dorothy and Lynn loved spending time with their kids and grandkids.  Their happiest times were when they were home with the kids under their feet.

She was preceded in death by her husband and their sons, Randy and baby Tommy; her parents, Milton and Edna Collins; her sister, Ruth (George) Wilhelmson; brothers-in-law, Clarence (Eunice) Brown and Robert Miller; sisters-in-law, Charlene Collins and Lila Rapp; and grandson, Brian Willard.

Dorothy leaves behind her sons, Larry (Carmen) Willard of Stapleton, Tim (Karen) Willard of Bartlesville, OK, and Douglas (Sharla) Willard of North Platte; daughters, Deb Merritt of Omaha and Cheryl (Roger) Beem of North Platte; daughter-in-law, Lisa Willard, sister, Irene Miller, and brother, Lewis Collins, all of North Platte; grandchildren, Tony (Lindsay) Merritt, Mikel (Debra) Merritt, Brad (Tracy) Willard, Courtney (Tanner) Schacher, Eric (Brodi) Willard, Nathan (Kristina) Willard, Sally (John Mark) Bell, Joshua (Sandy) Willard, Justin (Ashleigh) Willard, Amber Willard and Alex (Jennifer) Willard; numerous great-grandchildren; and other family members.

Services will be 10 a.m. on Friday, March 22, at First Christian Church with Jean Anderson officiating.  Burial to follow in Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens.  Visitation is Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and with family greeting from 4-6 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements.  Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com.  Memorials can be sent to First Christian Church, 220 N. Vine St., NP, 69101.