Betty Lou Wilkins

Graveside Services for Betty L. Wilkins will be conducted from the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege, Nebraska on Monday, November 21, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. with Reverend Dale Lambert, officiating.

Betty Lou Wilkins, 78 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Thursday, November 17, 2011 at Holdrege Memorial Homes. Betty was born February 3, 1933 near Cozad in Dawson County, Nebraska, the second of six children born to Otto Henry and Avis Louella (DeWitt) Knoedler. She received her education at Cozad.

On February 3, 1951 she was united in marriage to William Dee "Bill" Wilkins and to this union three sons were born: William D. Jr, Jim, and Mark. The family made their home in Holdrege. Bill passed away on March 5, 1984.

Betty was employed as a dishwasher at the Cozy Inn in Holdrege for ten years. She then worked at the Regal Steakhouse in Holdrege for over 20 years as a cook's helper then returned to the Cozy Inn for another ten years until her retirement in 1995.

Betty was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Eagles Auxiliary in Holdrege. She enjoyed playing Bingo, crocheting and word puzzle books.

Besides her parents and husband, Bill; Betty was preceded in death by one son, Jim Wilkins on November 14, 1982; and four brothers: Otto Knoedler, Jr. and his wife, Loann, Norman Dean Knoedler, Merle Knoedler and Rod Knoedler; and one sister, Debra McManis.

She leaves to mourn her passing her two sons: William D. "Bill" Wilkins, Jr., Mark A. Wilkins both of Holdrege; four grandchildren: Veronica Wilkins of Sioux City, Iowa, Eric Wilkins and wife, Kathy of Holdrege, Annette Anderson and her husband, Brian of Sioux City, and Carrie Smith of Holdrege; eight great-grandchildren: Kristen, Erika, Jaxson, and McKenna Wilkins, Ethan and Nickalas Anderson, Trevor Harwick, and Timothy Anderson; two sisters-in-law: Virgene Knoedler of Hastings, Nebraska and Barb Knoedler of Huntley, Nebraska; one brother-in-law, Michael "Mick" McManis of Topeka, Kansas; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 20, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in her memory and kindly suggested to the Holdrege Memorial Homes.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.