Willa Jean Olson

Willa Jean (Keller) Olson of Johnson Lake passed away May 22, 2010. She was the fourth of five daughters born to Willard and Myra (Patterson) Keller. Willa was born April 26, 1949 in Valentine, NE. She moved to Broken Bow at age 6 from the family ranch at Cascade, NE. She graduated from Broken Bow High School in 1967, and later graduated from Kearney State College with a degree in elementary education in 1971, and was a member of Chi Omega Sorority. She was united in marriage to Bruce Dowse in 1969 and to this union two sons were born. Willa taught 37 years at schools in Cherry, Brown, Custer and Dawson counties, retiring from Lexington Public Schools in 2008, where she spent her final 15 years of teaching. In 1999 Willa was married to Dennis Olson. They made their home at Johnson Lake where they enjoyed boat rides around the lake, fishing and hosting many friends and relatives. Willa was an active member of PEO Chapter AN and Alpha Delta Kappa. She enjoyed working crossword puzzles, sudoku, reading, playing bridge, golfing and gardening. She also looked forward to yearly visits with her sisters at the family home in Broken Bow. Her happiest times were spent at her lake home with her children and grandchildren. Willa is survived by her two sons, William Robert (Vicky) Dowse of Sutherland and Matthew Alan Dowse of Lincoln; grandsons William Robert “Robbie” Dowse, Andrew John Dowse; father Willard Keller and step-mother Ann Keller of Broken Bow; sisters Carolyn (Ed) Jezbera, Kay (Dennis) Schmid, Nelda “Babe” Terry all of Riverside, CA; Beverly Schwisow of Broken Bow; mother-in-law Bertha (Ben) Lee of North Platte; brothers-in-law Rodney (Berta) Olson of Broken Bow, Jerry (Rose) Olson of Mississippi; step children Cynthia (Larry) Jones, Cally (Darrell) Lowe of Texas; Danny Lee (Kathy) Olson of Sargent; step grandchildren Christina and Wiley Jones, Jade, Nicky, Dusty and Elissa Lowe, Zac, Tristan and Brett Olson; Many nieces and nephews. Willa was preceded in death by her mother Myra (Patterson) Keller and her second husband Dennis Olson. Visitation will be at Govier Brother’s Mortuary in Broken Bow on Tuesday, May 25. The family will be in attendance from 5-7 pm. There will be a private family inurnment at a later date. The family requests that donations be made to Good Samaritan Home Care Services, Broken Bow branch (hospice) in Willa Olson’s name.