Willard Eugene Holthus was born on October 9, 1933 in Ludell, Kansas, the son of William and Clara Holthus. As a child, Willard was baptized in Ludell, Kansas. In 1937 the Holthus family moved to Byron, Nebraska then to Goff, Kansas in 1940 before moving to Kit Carson in 1942. In 1951, Willard graduated from Kit Carson High School then going to Otero Junior College where he was a four sport letterman. Willard started his teaching career with a temporary certificate at the Kit Carson School District. On August 8, 1954, Willard was married to Betty Patton and to this marriage two children were born, Shelly and Barry. Willard continued his education obtaining his Bachelors degree from the University of Colorado and His Masters Degree in Administration from the University of Colorado. In 1969, the family moved to Eads where Willard took the job as the hospital administrator at Weisbrod Memorial Hospital. Willard returned to the education field, returning to the Kit Carson School District as Superintendent in the early 1970s, and then at the Yuma, CO School District. In the mid 1970s Willard began his career with BOCES which took him to the communities of Limon, Haxtun and Sterling before retiring in 1996 after a lifelong career in public education. After his retirement, he moved to Greeley, CO and then finally to Lakewood, CO in 1999 where he would make his home until the time of his death.


Willard E. Holthus died at his home on September 26, 2007. He is survived by his children Shelly (David) Koets and Barry Holthus as well as his grandson Tyler Koets. He is also survived by his 4 brothers Clarence Holthus, Arnold (Elsie) Holthus, Robert (Peggy) Holthus and Melvin (Judy) Holthus. He is preceded in death by his parents.


Graveside funeral services were held on Tuesday October 2, 2007 at the Kit Carson Cemetery with Pastor Martin Davis officiating. Following the graveside service, the family returned to the Trinity Lutheran Church in Kit Carson for a lunch that had been prepared for them by the Trinity Lutheran Ladies.