Kim L. Wills, 65, passed away Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at Morrill County Community Hospital in Bridgeport, NE.
She was born on June 13, 1959 in Alliance to Keith Calvin and Hazel June (Herman) Tolstedt. She attended school through the 8th grade at District #40, a small country school north of Alliance. She was an avid 4-H member of Hilltop View, where she took sewing and cooking classes. At a young age she knew the definition of hard work, having grown up on a family farm with 6 brothers and sisters and having to milk cows. After graduating from Alliance High School, she obtained her cosmetology license at a Beauty School in Gering and then worked a short stint at Kurl n Swirl while Mike worked at Alliance Consumers Coop.
Kim spent most of her high school years following Mike to high school rodeos. On June 18, 1977, at the age of 17, she married her high school sweetheart, Mike Wills. Kim became a housewife when Mike and Kim were invited to join Kim’s parents on the family farm, Box L Inc. At the age of 18, she was expecting twin girls, Alice and April, due during the Blizzard of 1979. Kim’s dad had her make numerous trips to town for fear she would go into labor and not be able to get to town. Four years later, their son Heath was born. During the next years, she was a farmer’s wife and mother to her 3 children making sure they experienced a true country life and learning the value of hard work.
Becoming a grandma was another great moment in her life. She spent her time following them through sports, 4-H and FFA, and steer and heifer shows. In her eyes there wasn’t anything her grandkids couldn’t do and excel at because she knew it was something that they all loved doing. Together, her and Mike have taught those same values of hard work and passion to their grandchildren.
The most beautiful and precious parts of Kim’s life were hanging out with her children and grandchildren. Her tenderness will be seen in the memories of her grandkids and her compassion for others will be embraced by those she helped and the friends who witnessed.
Her survivors are her husband, Mike, her daughters, Alice (Bobby) Smith and April (Patrick) Crowley and her son, Heath (Courtney) Wills all of Alliance and her grandchildren, Tate and Dak Smith, Bailey Vogel, Madison Smith, Brooklyn Crowley, and Rozlyn, Railey, Laney, and Lexey Wills. She is also survived by her brothers and sister, Steven Tolstedt of Alliance, Susan (Tim) Maxcy of Gering, Michael (Barbara) Tolstedt of Alliance, Mark (Jill) Tolstedt of Sioux City, IA and Lance (Tracy) Tolstedt of Gilbert, AZ and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Keith and June Tolstedt, her sister, Gina Tolstedt, her father and mother-in-law, Harold “Bud” and Betty Wills, brothers-in-law, Ross Wills and Tim Wills and her sister-in-law, Janet Toedtli and her dearest friend, Brenda Jinks.
Funeral services will be Monday, November 18, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church. Pastor Richard Mueller and Pastor Shaun Daugherty officiating. Burial will be in the Alliance Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday, Nov. 17 from 1-5 p.m. with family being present from 3-5 p.m. at the Bates-Gould Funeral Home.
Memorials may be given in care of Mike Wills to be donated to the Box Butte County 4-H Program.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com.