Riley Williams

10/22/1925 – 9/17/1997

Riley J. Williams, 71, died Wednesday, Sept. 17, 1997 at Methodist Hospital in Omaha, folloing a lengthy illness.

Services were Saturday at the United Methodist Church in Decatur. Rev. Judith Clark Wharton officiated. Burial was in Hillcrest Cemetery at Decatur.

Williams was born Oct. 22, 1925 on the family farm southeast of Decatur to JoSepth and Viola (Craig) Williams. He attended District 11 country school and Decatur High School. He left school to work in the Omaha Packing Plant when workers were needed because of the war. He was drafted in the U. S. Army Aug. 1, 1944 and served his country in the South Pacific with Expert M1 Rifle qualifications. He returned as technical staff sergeant in August 1946 with the Asiatic Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal. On July 1, 1947, he married Norma Jean Maw at the Presbyterian Church in Lyons. They farmed until 1975, when an accident forced his early retirement. In 1962, they moved into Decatur. Since his retirement he has built wooden clocks, lamps and other items.

He was a member of the American Legion Roger-Crum Post No. 215, Veterans of Foreign Wars Gleason-Rogers Post No. 6926 of Decatur and the National Rifleman’s Association.

Survivors are his wife, Norma Jean; a son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Molly Williams of Tekamah; daughters and sons-in-law, Jane and Jim Judt of Blair and Nancy and Robert Dyer of McCook Lake, South Dakota; 10 grandchildren, Katie Williams, Carrie and spouse, K.C. Braniff, Jenny Judt, Derek Judt, Terry Judt, Jeremy Sabatka, Lindsey Sabatka and Benjamin Dyer; a great-grandson, Trenton Johnson; two sisters, Helen Kahlandt of Decatur and Lucille Fleischman of Oakland, Neb.; five nieces and two nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Lloyd Williams.

Casket bearers were Derek Judt, Terry Judt, Bill Williams, K.C. Braniff, Tony Fleischman and John Kraucunas.

Honorary casket bearers were Jim Reno, Paul Phelps, Lyle Farrens, Merle Farrens, Eldon Farrens and Arthur Mussack.

Dona Beard was organist. Katie Williams was pianist.