Willard Lynn Hoyt

Willard Lynn Hoyt

May 9, 1916 - Aug. 20, 2014

McCOOK, Neb. -- Willard Lynn Hoyt was born in Hitchcock County, south of Culbertson, Nebraska, May 9, 1916, to Lynn and Helena (Hellriegel) Hoyt. His mother died nine days after his birth so he was raised by his Aunt Vira and Uncle George Wallen on their farm south of Lincoln, Nebraska, until the age of five. He returned to live with his two sisters, Frances and Elynnor, after his father married Ruth Householder of Bladen, Nebraska, who owned land in Hitchcock County.

Willard attended the District 68 country school on the southeast corner of the home section from 1921 to 1930. He graduated from Culbertson High School in 1934. Willard was a student at the University of Nebraska from 1936 to 1938, studying farm operators courses and even coaching boxing at the Ag College. Willard continued to attend various agricultural courses during winter months over the next 25 years. He farmed with his father, Lynn, until his sudden death on July 11, 1938. Willard purchased the original 640-acre home section from the Lynn B. Hoyt estate in 1939. The home section had been acquired between 1910 and 1929. The last quarter-section had been added a few days before the Great Stock Market Crash in 1929.

The home and barn were powered by a 32-volt light plant and had the only yard light among the area farms. Rural electricity did not arrive until 1946.

Willard began raising Certified Wheat seed in 1942. When not farming, he worked as a Fireman on the Burlington Railroad from 1942 through 1943, due to the labor shortage of the war years. He farmed 160 acres and eventually 800 acres of Department of Aeronautics land at the McCook Army Air Base from 1953 to 1970.

Violet Virginia Moreau became Willard's bride in September, 1939. Both earned pilot licenses, his in 1938 and hers in 1939. They traded a car worth about $250 for their first airplane.

The first of their four daughters, Sharon Annette, arrived in 1941, followed by three daughters in three years between 1944 and 1946, Virginia Lynn, Patricia Helena, and Barbara Adeline.

Willard helped organize the Nebraska Flying Farmers in 1945 by designing their emblem. He promoted the Skyriders Flying Club in 1963 and became a commercial rated pilot in 1970.

Willard served as president while he was active in the Junior Chamber of Commerce and helped the Jaycees conduct dances at the city auditorium in McCook while the Army Air Base was active.

Stock car racing became popular with him in 1953 when he ran 1932 and 1934 Fords with the numbers 4 and 4 ½ printed on cars painted pink with blue polka dots. By his last year of racing, he had a 1955 Thunderbird that ran on tracks in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska.

The McCook Public Power Board was an important part of Willard's life as he served for 25 years, 14 of them as president. Willard was a member of St. Alban's Episcopal Church, the Elks Lodge, Eagles Lodge, and Red Willow County Sheriff's Posse.

Violet succumbed to cancer in 1976. He married Frances Amen in 1978. Laverne "Vernie" Harrison, a family friend, became his wife in 1995. She died August 23, 2014, in a Fredricksburg, Texas, nursing home near her daughter, Sue Harrison-Jewell.

Willard was preceded in death by his parents, Lynn and Helena Hoyt and his stepmothers, Ruth Householder Hoyt and Lula Anderson Hoyt; his wives, Violet, Frances, and Vernie. His two sisters Frances Trail and Elynnor Trail, as well as, his stepdaughter, Deb Amen, all passed previously.

Surviving Willard are his four daughters: Sharon (Wallace) Denison, Tuthill, South Dakota; Virginia (Jack) Clark, McCook, Nebraska; Patricia (Paul James "Jamie") Forch, Trenton, Nebraska; and Barbara (Patrick) McGill, Bennet, Nebraska; ten grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his stepdaughters Sandy (Rod) Kaiser, Greeley, Colorado; and Sue Harrison-Jewell, Fredricksburg, Texas, and their families.

A memorial service is planned for Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Alban's Episcopal Church with Father Brad Bauer. Inurnment will be in the Grove Cemetery South of Culbertson.

Herrmann Jones Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.