Marie Valentine Willson

Marie Valentine Willson

Memorial services for Marie Valentine Willson, 92, were conducted at the Lusk Congregational Church at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 9, 1992, by Rev. Allen Kallenback.

Willson died June 2, 1992, at the Niobrara County Nursing Home while recovering from a recent fall. She was born Feb. 14, 1900 in Ottawa County, Kansas. She graduated from Salina High School in 1918. After attending Asbury Hospital School of Nursing for two years, she became ill and was advised to travel west for her health.

On Sept. 12, 1925, she married Eugene P. Willson. They lived on his homestead at Harney Creek, nine miles north of Keeline, before moving to the Willson Ranch at Manville in 1934. In 1936 they moved to the Running Water Ranch west of Lusk where they remained until his retirement from cattle ranching in 1971. The couple moved into Lusk at that time.

Willson enjoyed her five children and their families. Other interests included rock hunting and fishing with her husband. She had a varied and creative sense of art expressed in music appreciation and accomplishments in china painting, miniature oil painting and crafts using natural materials. She was a longtime member of the Lusk Congregational Church. She was also an avid gardener and served as president of the Fancy Farmers' Garden Club for three years and three years as the State Bird Chairman for the State Garden Club. She was also a member of P.E.O. Chapter I.

Survivors include her sister, Zoa Krager of Concordia, Kan.; her daughters, Mary Jean Wilson of Sundance, Wyo., Phyllis Hahn of Lusk, Dr. June Willson Read of Greensboro, N.C.; two sons, George Willson of Laurel, Md. and James Willson of Lusk; 17 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, two sisters and a brother.

In accordance with her wishes, her eyes were donated for research and her remains cremated. Ashes will be interred by the family in a private ceremony at the Harney Creek homestead at a later date.

For those who wish, memorials to the Congregational Church Organ Fund, the Lusk Senior Center or the Niobrara Ambulance Service will be appreciated by the family.

Bader-Peet Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.

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