Wilma Lucille Potter, 87, of Grand Island died Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, at Country House with her loving husband at her side.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church in Grand Island. The Rev. Caroline Price-Gibson will officiate. Entombment will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Westlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum.

Wilma was born Sept. 12, 1925, to John and Ruth (Anthony) Pedersen on a farm north of Lexington.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Harold Low.

Survivors include her husband, Earl Potter; daughter and son-in-law, Bobbi and Rod Adams of Lincoln; daughter-in- law, Mickie Potter of Palmer; brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Judith Pedersen of North Platte; five grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandson.

She is also surved by daughter-in- law, Mickie Potter of Palmer, and sister-in-law, Sherry Pederson of Fort Collins, Colo.

Wilma attended a one-room rural country school. She graduated from Lexington High School in 1943 and married Harold Low. Michael was born in 1948. She worked at Farmers State Bank in Lexington until 1957.

Wilma and Earl Potter were married at the First Presbyterian Church on Feb. 14, 1957, in Lexington. Daughter Bobbi was born that same year. They moved to a farm north of Cozad, and in 1959 moved into town.

Wilma taught Sunday school and vacation Bible school at the Presbyterian Church in Cozad and, along with Earl, sponsored Senior High Fellowship there. Wilma also was president of Mrs. Jaycees in Cozad. In Grand Island, she was treasurer of Presbyterian Women's Association and attended afternoon church fellowship.

Wilma went back to work in 1965 when they purchased the Cozad Hardware Store. In 1968, they started Potter's Appliance Store and Coin-Op Laundry in Grand Island. Wilma was a meticulous bookkeeper. She loved people and loved the sales aspect of the business, too.

Wilma belonged to the Altrusa International Club, where she was president and treasurer, working with Travel and Adventure films. As president, she attended two international conventions in Green Bay, Wis., and Kansas City, Kan. She was a charter member of VFW Ladies Auxiliary in Lexington.

Exercise was important to Wilma. Over the years, Wilma enjoyed exercising at Figurama, the YWCA and the YMCA. In recent years, Wilma and Earl enjoyed walking at the mall and made many friends there.

Wilma and Earl loved to travel, making several trips to Europe and taking several Cruises.

She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Michael; sisters, Ethel and Joan; brother, Dean; and her first husband, Harold Low.

Published in The Grand Island Independent on December 31, 2012