Willa "Billie" LuVerne Hendrickson Woodward Austin always said she was lucky to be surrounded by people who spoiled her in life. And it was true. She had two mothers who helped raise her, two husbands who took care of her, and two daughters and stepchildren who loved her dearly.
But it wasn't luck that brought those people into her life. It's because people gravitated toward her gracious and patient nature, and they wanted to support her.
Willa, 101, died September 13, 2021, with her daughter by her side at Touchmark at All Saints, Sioux Falls, SD.
Willa was born April 2, 1920, in Watauga, South Dakota to William and Sophia Hendrickson.
Education was of the utmost importance to Willa, who valued knowledge throughout her life and 32-year teaching career. Even after missing a year of school in 9th grade due to appendicitis, she took extra classes to graduate on time with the rest of her class at McIntosh High School, Class of 1937.
She continued her education at Black Hills State University and Northern State, earning her bachelor's degree from Northern State. She then pursued graduate studies at the University of Colorado, the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University. She taught at one-room schoolhouses within the McIntosh School District as well as Colome and Watertown schools before retiring in 1981.
It was through Willa's upbringing in rural South Dakota and through the Great Depression that she became the patient yet determined woman she was throughout life. Willa regularly gained hobbies and learned to master them, whether it was sewing, cooking and entertaining, bridge, swimming, or dancing.
Despite the difficulties and challenges she experienced in her life, Willa smiled often and was grateful because she "had a good life," she'd say.
In fact, it was her smile that would brighten not only her loved ones' days but those of strangers she met in passing. She was a reassurance to her daughters, a calm presence to acquaintances and a sanctuary for friends.
Willa met Louis Woodward while they were both students at Black Hill State University and they married on June 16, 1941 in Watauga. The couple raised two daughters and were married for 53 years. A few years after Louis' death in 1994, she married Alan Austin in 1996 and spent seven happy years together.
Willa was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, UCC Guild, Beta Sigma Phi, Faculty Wives and PEO.
Willa is preceded in death by her parents William and Sophia Hendrickson; stepmother Susie Hendrickson; brother Glen Hendrickson; stepsiblings Helen Sutton and James Henderson; husbands Louis Woodward and Alan Austin; and daughter Susan Woodward Tracy.
Survivors include sister Donna Hendrickson Dayton; sister-in-law Leona Hendrickson Horn; daughter Judi (Tim) Woodward Heiman; stepchildren Douglas (Maylou) Austin and MaryAnn (David) Nelson; grandchildren Mark Austin, Ann (Scott) Pfaff, Reed (Nettie) Austin, Julie (Russ) Reimer, Bryan (Jodie) Nelson; and seven great grandchildren including Andrew, Katherine, Zoe, Addison, Austin, Owen and Natalie.
Services will begin at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, September 21st at Watertown First Congregational United Church of Christ with burial at Mount Hope Cemetery. The family encourages the use of masks for non-vaccinated persons.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Monday, September 20, 2021 at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown.
The family requests that donations be made to Arrow Education Foundation, Watertown Community Foundation and Watertown United Church of Christ in lieu of flowers.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel-www.wightandcomes.com.
- Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel
But it wasn't luck that brought those people into her life. It's because people gravitated toward her gracious and patient nature, and they wanted to support her.
Willa, 101, died September 13, 2021, with her daughter by her side at Touchmark at All Saints, Sioux Falls, SD.
Willa was born April 2, 1920, in Watauga, South Dakota to William and Sophia Hendrickson.
Education was of the utmost importance to Willa, who valued knowledge throughout her life and 32-year teaching career. Even after missing a year of school in 9th grade due to appendicitis, she took extra classes to graduate on time with the rest of her class at McIntosh High School, Class of 1937.
She continued her education at Black Hills State University and Northern State, earning her bachelor's degree from Northern State. She then pursued graduate studies at the University of Colorado, the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University. She taught at one-room schoolhouses within the McIntosh School District as well as Colome and Watertown schools before retiring in 1981.
It was through Willa's upbringing in rural South Dakota and through the Great Depression that she became the patient yet determined woman she was throughout life. Willa regularly gained hobbies and learned to master them, whether it was sewing, cooking and entertaining, bridge, swimming, or dancing.
Despite the difficulties and challenges she experienced in her life, Willa smiled often and was grateful because she "had a good life," she'd say.
In fact, it was her smile that would brighten not only her loved ones' days but those of strangers she met in passing. She was a reassurance to her daughters, a calm presence to acquaintances and a sanctuary for friends.
Willa met Louis Woodward while they were both students at Black Hill State University and they married on June 16, 1941 in Watauga. The couple raised two daughters and were married for 53 years. A few years after Louis' death in 1994, she married Alan Austin in 1996 and spent seven happy years together.
Willa was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, UCC Guild, Beta Sigma Phi, Faculty Wives and PEO.
Willa is preceded in death by her parents William and Sophia Hendrickson; stepmother Susie Hendrickson; brother Glen Hendrickson; stepsiblings Helen Sutton and James Henderson; husbands Louis Woodward and Alan Austin; and daughter Susan Woodward Tracy.
Survivors include sister Donna Hendrickson Dayton; sister-in-law Leona Hendrickson Horn; daughter Judi (Tim) Woodward Heiman; stepchildren Douglas (Maylou) Austin and MaryAnn (David) Nelson; grandchildren Mark Austin, Ann (Scott) Pfaff, Reed (Nettie) Austin, Julie (Russ) Reimer, Bryan (Jodie) Nelson; and seven great grandchildren including Andrew, Katherine, Zoe, Addison, Austin, Owen and Natalie.
Services will begin at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, September 21st at Watertown First Congregational United Church of Christ with burial at Mount Hope Cemetery. The family encourages the use of masks for non-vaccinated persons.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Monday, September 20, 2021 at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown.
The family requests that donations be made to Arrow Education Foundation, Watertown Community Foundation and Watertown United Church of Christ in lieu of flowers.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel-www.wightandcomes.com.
- Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel
Willa "Billie" LuVerne Hendrickson Woodward Austin always said she was lucky to be surrounded by people who spoiled her in life. And it was true. She had two mothers who helped raise her, two husbands who took care of her, and two daughters and stepchildren who loved her dearly.
But it wasn't luck that brought those people into her life. It's because people gravitated toward her gracious and patient nature, and they wanted to support her.
Willa, 101, died September 13, 2021, with her daughter by her side at Touchmark at All Saints, Sioux Falls, SD.
Willa was born April 2, 1920, in Watauga, South Dakota to William and Sophia Hendrickson.
Education was of the utmost importance to Willa, who valued knowledge throughout her life and 32-year teaching career. Even after missing a year of school in 9th grade due to appendicitis, she took extra classes to graduate on time with the rest of her class at McIntosh High School, Class of 1937.
She continued her education at Black Hills State University and Northern State, earning her bachelor's degree from Northern State. She then pursued graduate studies at the University of Colorado, the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University. She taught at one-room schoolhouses within the McIntosh School District as well as Colome and Watertown schools before retiring in 1981.
It was through Willa's upbringing in rural South Dakota and through the Great Depression that she became the patient yet determined woman she was throughout life. Willa regularly gained hobbies and learned to master them, whether it was sewing, cooking and entertaining, bridge, swimming, or dancing.
Despite the difficulties and challenges she experienced in her life, Willa smiled often and was grateful because she "had a good life," she'd say.
In fact, it was her smile that would brighten not only her loved ones' days but those of strangers she met in passing. She was a reassurance to her daughters, a calm presence to acquaintances and a sanctuary for friends.
Willa met Louis Woodward while they were both students at Black Hill State University and they married on June 16, 1941 in Watauga. The couple raised two daughters and were married for 53 years. A few years after Louis' death in 1994, she married Alan Austin in 1996 and spent seven happy years together.
Willa was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, UCC Guild, Beta Sigma Phi, Faculty Wives and PEO.
Willa is preceded in death by her parents William and Sophia Hendrickson; stepmother Susie Hendrickson; brother Glen Hendrickson; stepsiblings Helen Sutton and James Henderson; husbands Louis Woodward and Alan Austin; and daughter Susan Woodward Tracy.
Survivors include sister Donna Hendrickson Dayton; sister-in-law Leona Hendrickson Horn; daughter Judi (Tim) Woodward Heiman; stepchildren Douglas (Maylou) Austin and MaryAnn (David) Nelson; grandchildren Mark Austin, Ann (Scott) Pfaff, Reed (Nettie) Austin, Julie (Russ) Reimer, Bryan (Jodie) Nelson; and seven great grandchildren including Andrew, Katherine, Zoe, Addison, Austin, Owen and Natalie.
Services will begin at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, September 21st at Watertown First Congregational United Church of Christ with burial at Mount Hope Cemetery. The family encourages the use of masks for non-vaccinated persons.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Monday, September 20, 2021 at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown.
The family requests that donations be made to Arrow Education Foundation, Watertown Community Foundation and Watertown United Church of Christ in lieu of flowers.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel-www.wightandcomes.com.
- Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel
But it wasn't luck that brought those people into her life. It's because people gravitated toward her gracious and patient nature, and they wanted to support her.
Willa, 101, died September 13, 2021, with her daughter by her side at Touchmark at All Saints, Sioux Falls, SD.
Willa was born April 2, 1920, in Watauga, South Dakota to William and Sophia Hendrickson.
Education was of the utmost importance to Willa, who valued knowledge throughout her life and 32-year teaching career. Even after missing a year of school in 9th grade due to appendicitis, she took extra classes to graduate on time with the rest of her class at McIntosh High School, Class of 1937.
She continued her education at Black Hills State University and Northern State, earning her bachelor's degree from Northern State. She then pursued graduate studies at the University of Colorado, the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University. She taught at one-room schoolhouses within the McIntosh School District as well as Colome and Watertown schools before retiring in 1981.
It was through Willa's upbringing in rural South Dakota and through the Great Depression that she became the patient yet determined woman she was throughout life. Willa regularly gained hobbies and learned to master them, whether it was sewing, cooking and entertaining, bridge, swimming, or dancing.
Despite the difficulties and challenges she experienced in her life, Willa smiled often and was grateful because she "had a good life," she'd say.
In fact, it was her smile that would brighten not only her loved ones' days but those of strangers she met in passing. She was a reassurance to her daughters, a calm presence to acquaintances and a sanctuary for friends.
Willa met Louis Woodward while they were both students at Black Hill State University and they married on June 16, 1941 in Watauga. The couple raised two daughters and were married for 53 years. A few years after Louis' death in 1994, she married Alan Austin in 1996 and spent seven happy years together.
Willa was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, UCC Guild, Beta Sigma Phi, Faculty Wives and PEO.
Willa is preceded in death by her parents William and Sophia Hendrickson; stepmother Susie Hendrickson; brother Glen Hendrickson; stepsiblings Helen Sutton and James Henderson; husbands Louis Woodward and Alan Austin; and daughter Susan Woodward Tracy.
Survivors include sister Donna Hendrickson Dayton; sister-in-law Leona Hendrickson Horn; daughter Judi (Tim) Woodward Heiman; stepchildren Douglas (Maylou) Austin and MaryAnn (David) Nelson; grandchildren Mark Austin, Ann (Scott) Pfaff, Reed (Nettie) Austin, Julie (Russ) Reimer, Bryan (Jodie) Nelson; and seven great grandchildren including Andrew, Katherine, Zoe, Addison, Austin, Owen and Natalie.
Services will begin at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, September 21st at Watertown First Congregational United Church of Christ with burial at Mount Hope Cemetery. The family encourages the use of masks for non-vaccinated persons.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Monday, September 20, 2021 at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown.
The family requests that donations be made to Arrow Education Foundation, Watertown Community Foundation and Watertown United Church of Christ in lieu of flowers.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel-www.wightandcomes.com.
- Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
See more Woodward Austin or Hendrickson memorials in:
- Mount Hope Cemetery Woodward Austin or Hendrickson
- Watertown Woodward Austin or Hendrickson
- Codington County Woodward Austin or Hendrickson
- South Dakota Woodward Austin or Hendrickson
- USA Woodward Austin or Hendrickson
- Find a Grave Woodward Austin or Hendrickson
Advertisement
