Ramona Rea Hilligas

Ramona Rea Hilligas, 84, of Grand Island died Sunday, December 27th, 2015.

A Memorial service will be held Saturday, January 2nd at 1 pm in Gollaher Chapel at Trinity United Methodist Church in Grand Island. Pastor Russ Anderson will be officiating. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date.

Apfel Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Ramona was born June 19, 1931, in Sargent, Nebraska. The daughter of Raymond and Ethel (Wells) Sutton. Ramona grew up on the family farm just outside Sargent where she received her education graduating from Sargent High School. Ramona attended Kearney State College for a time before she met and married Ken after being set up on a blind date by two dear friends. They were united in marriage, June 3, 1951. They were married just shy of 62 years. Ken and Ramona made their home in Grand Island where they raised four children.

Ramona had a deep passion for horses, and this passion began as a very young girl. She loved to tell the story of how her mom would send her pony to pick her up from the little school house, a mile away from her home. She and Ken had the opportunity to share this passion for horses after Ken retired; which gave them more opportunity to spend precious time together working with their horses and on trail rides. As many of Ramonas friends and acquaintances know, she also had a passion and great talent for music. She had a beautiful voice and derived much pleasure from singing her entire life. Those who were around her were happy to hear her sing, even into her later years. She had an impressive recollection of verses to many songs, much to the delight of those privileged to hear her.

Although her health challenges were restrictive for the last few years, she continued to charm all who came to know her, and she will always be loved and fondly remembered.

Survivors include her children and daughters/sons-in-law: Leigh Otto of Denver Colorado, Craig and Lori Hilligas of Tucson AZ, Scott and Cori Hilligas of Grand Island, and Lisa and Scott Williams of Omaha. 11 grandchildren: Aaron Hilligas, Kristen Heiser, Chris Otto, Sarah Hilligas, Bree Baatz, Tim Otto, Haley Hilligas, Ben Otto, Matt & Amber Hilligas, Mallory and Cara Williams, six great grandchildren, Lucas and Sebastian Hilligas, Nora Hilligas, Lincoln and Cooper Heiser, and Madison Otto. 2 sisters in law and a brother in law, Lewie and Shirley Hilligas of Grand Island, and Claudia Smith of South Lake Texas.

Ramona was preceded in death by her parents: Raymond and Ethel Sutton, her brothers, Sterling and Bobby and an infant daughter, Christi.