Willa Marie (Arent) Owens Mortimore, 96, of Curtis died September 28, 2012 at Linden Court in North Platte, NE.

She was born February 13, 1916 to Fred Fredrick and Elizabeth Marie (Podewitz) Arent in Kearney County near Minden, NE. They later moved to Cambridge, then Culbertson. In the spring of 1928 her family moved to Frontier County south of Stockville, where they built a home.

Willa married Richard T. Owens on February 6, 1936. To this union four children were born Patsie Lee, Harold Edward, John Charles and Shirley Ann. Dick died on May 19, 1945 leaving her with four small children. She was later united with Ervin Cecil Mortimore in 1948.

Willa was preceded in death by husband Dick Owens, husband Ervin Mortimore, parents Fred and Elizabeth Arent, four infant children, step-son Richard Lyle Owens, granddaughter Bonny Jane Owens, grandson Richard Dean Gardner, five brothers; Leslie, Pete, Ted, Dude and Fritz, and one sister Edna Kotschwar.

She is survived by her children Patsie (Russell) Wood of Cambridge, NE; Harold (Mary) Owens of Hill City, SD; John (Bernita) Owens of Stockville, NE; Shirley Owens of Curtis, NE; seven grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, brother Chuck (Carol) Arent of Red Feather, CO; sisters Beverly Johnson, Cozad, NE; and Onie Greenlee of North Platte, NE.

Visitation will be held at Blase-Wetzel-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Curtis, Nebraska; Monday, October 01, 2012 11:00 am – 8:00 pm with the family present from 6:00 pm -8:00 pm.

Funeral services will be held at the United Church of Christ in Stockville, on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 10:30 am with Dale Heimer officiating.

Interment will follow in the Arbor Cemetery, Stockville, NE.

A memorial has been established in Willa’s name, c/o Kevin Owens, 38910 HWY 23, Curtis, NE 69025.

To sign the online guest book, go to www.blasestrauser.com