Ila Ann Widger, age 91, of Wauneta, NE passed away at Wauneta Care and Therapy on Saturday, September 11, 2021. She was born on the family homestead in Washington County, near Herman, NE, on August 21, 1930, to Elmer and Edna (Matthews) Thone. Ila attended Thone Country School District 21 for 8 years and graduated from Blair High School in 1947. In 1951, she graduated from the University of Nebraska Lincoln with degrees in Vocational Education, Clothing and Textiles, and Food and Nutrition. At that time, Ila became the youngest teacher in the state of Nebraska. Marge (Garey) Hanna, Ila's best friend, and Ila pooled their money after graduating from college and spent the summer touring Europe on bicycles. She taught Home Economics and Art for over 20 years in the Wauneta and Hayes Center Schools.
After moving to Wauneta to teach Home Economics, Ila met the love of her life, C. Orville Widger. They were married on December 27, 1953, in the Blair Methodist Church. Their union produced three sons, Mark, Dan, and Sam. Ila and Orville were married for 59 years.
Ila was active in the Wauneta Methodist Church as a member for 65+ years: president of WSCS, taught Sunday school, was a 4-H leader, enjoyed target shooting, and a Den Mother for each of her sons in Troop #1 of the local Cub Scouts. After retiring from teaching, she became an avid quilter, helping to sew over 1000 charity quilts, plus hundreds of quilts and quilted wall hangings for family and friends. She had a lot of other interests as well, knitting, crocheting, woodworking, pretty much any type of crafts, and loved spending time at their cabin in Colorado.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Elmer Sr. and Edna Thone; her in-laws, Carl and Eva Widger; her husband, Orville (2013); her brother and his wife, Elmer Jr. and Gwen Thone; her brother and his wife, Dr. James and Leona Thone; son, Mark (2020); and granddaughter Emily (2014).
Ila is survived by her daughter-in-law, Carrie Widger-Ward (Chuck) of Omaha, NE; son, Dan (Deb) of Wahoo, NE; son, Sam (Michelle) of Kearney, NE; nine grandchildren: Sarah (Bryant) Travis, Alicia (Brian) Dieter, Matthew Widger, Amy (Cody) Widger, Adam (Megan) Stone, Keri (Justin) Rahn, Zach Widger, Megan Widger, Hannah Widger; and ten great grandchildren: Cami and Ali and Mark Dieter, Emily and Rozlin Kumpula, Koltar and Erika and Carly Rahn, Zelda and Coraline Stone.
Memorials were requested by Ila to go to the United Methodist Church of Wauneta, the Wauneta Fire Department, the Wauneta Library, the Wauneta Senior Center, or the Nebraska MADD Chapter.
Ila chose cremation and services will be held at the United Methodist Church in Wauneta, NE on October 23, 2021, at 11:00am (MT), with Rev. Elias Munkindia officiating. Inurnment will be in the Riverside Cemetery in Wauneta. Family will receive visitors beginning at 10:00 am (MT) at the church. Herrmann-Jones Funeral Home in McCook, NE has been entrusted with Ila's arrangements.