Leta Grace Illingworth

A Memorial Service for Leta Grace Illingworth will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Reverend Dr. W. Kirwin Stewart, Jr. officiating. A private inurnment will be held prior to the service at the Prairie Home Cemetery, Holdrege, Nebraska,

Leta Grace Illingworth, 98 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Monday, August 25, 2025 at Holdrege Memorial Homes. Leta Grace was born on June 17, 1927, at Balfour, North Dakota, the youngest of three children born to Owen R. and Emma L. (Zinn) Breaw. She lived and received her education in many different places, as her father, was a minister. Leta Grace lived with her sister and attended her senior year of high school at Holdrege High School.

In August of 1947, Leta Grace was united in marriage to Dale Lee Illingworth.  The couple and Dale's young son, Steve made their home in Holdrege and two daughters were born to this union:  Mary Beth and Sharon.  The family continued to make their home in Holdrege were Dale owned and operated Illingworth & Sons Realty.  Together the family enjoyed camping trips to Wyoming and Colorado.

Leta Grace was a faithful member the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege for over 50 years and was a 50-year plus member of the Order of the Easter Star.  She loved fashion, always looked her best and never had a hair out of place! Leta Grace loved to raise flowers, especially roses and rose bushes, was an avid bird enthusiast and arborist,  and enjoyed playing Bridge, and researching Native American history, was a favorite past-time.

Leta Grace was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dale in 2002; and her siblings:  Lionel Breaw; and LuVerne Shaw and her husband, Eugene.

She leaves to celebrate her life: a son, Steve Illingworth and his wife, Kathy of Hastings, Nebraska; and two daughters:  Sharon Kaufman and her husband, Jeff of Holdrege; and Mary Beth Kruger and her husband, Leslie of Randolph, Nebraska; seven grandchildren: Gillian Robertson and her husband, Eddy of Alverado, Texas; Ryan Kruger and his wife, Robin of Pilger, Nebraska; Hillary Kruger of Denver, Colorado; Adrianne Williamson and her husband, Blake of Norfolk, Nebraska; Lee Illingworth of Frasier, Colorado, Dave Illingworth of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Annie Mitchell and her husband, Austin of Hastings, Nebraska; eight great-grandchildren: Tesslynn, Ziva, Hayleigh, Ayden, Peyton, Jaxen, Troy and Cloie; and a host of other relatives and friends.

There will not be a visitation, viewing or Memorial Book Signing the evening prior to the memorial service.

Memorials are kindly suggested to the First Presbyterian Church or 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.