Ila Lankey

Ila J. Lankey, age 82, of Willmar, died Monday, June 15, at Bethesda Heritage Center in Willmar.

Memorial services will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar. A private interment will be held at Union Cemetery in Atwater. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

Ila Jean Lankey was born March 29, 1927, in Atwater, Minnesota, the daughter of Orbin and Grace (Ferguson) Rear. She grew up and helped on the family farm northwest of Atwater. She attended District 27 School near Diamond Lake and graduated from Atwater High School in 1945. In 1947, she married Charles Lankey. They lived in Appleton, Norcross, Herman, and Graceville. They later moved to a farm near Grove City and to Willmar in 2005.

Ila enjoyed playing softball, watching Twins and Vikings games, playing cards and games. She also enjoyed her women's study club groups, flowers, baking, and family get-togethers. She loved animals and working on their hobby farm near Grove City. She took in countless stray cats into her home.

Ila is survived by her husband of 62 years: Charles; her daughter: Carol Pelvit of Breckenridge; three grandchildren: Celeste (and Tim) Prairie of Fridley, Chad (and Nikki) Pelvit of Amelia, Ohio, and Christi (and John) Tullbane of Rogers; ten great-grandchildren: Evan, Grace, and Ellyana Prairie; Zaden, Luke, Layne and Jonah Pelvit; and Caroline, Maredith and her namesake, Ila Tullbane; and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother: Merlyn Rear.