Willis L. Buethe

Willis Lee Buethe, 83, of rural Elk Creek, Nebraska, passed away peacefully on October 16, 2025, at Gold Crest Retirement Center in Adams, Nebraska.

Willis was born on September 20, 1942, in Pawnee City, Nebraska, to Earhardt and Leora (Geweke) Buethe in the Pawnee County Hospital Annex. His parents were of proud German heritage, descended from families who emigrated to Nebraska by way of Illinois in the late 1800s. He was baptized on October 4, 1942, by Pastor W. G. Nau and confirmed on March 25, 1956, by Pastor J. Heins at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Elk Creek, where he remained a lifelong member. His confirmation verse was Hebrews 10:23 (ESV): “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

Willis grew up on a farm a few miles west of Elk Creek, where he worked side by side with his older brother, Ronald Dale Buethe, with whom he shared not only a deep bond but a lifetime of farming and friendship. Together, they operated a traditional southeast Nebraska farm… raising corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and cattle, and at times even a few hogs and sheep. Cattle were their passion, and they raised them well. They wore seed caps, worked hard, loved to laugh, and exemplified the kind of quiet faith and humility that defined their community.

He attended St. Peter’s Lutheran School through the eighth grade and graduated from Elk Creek High School, home of the Antlers, in 1960 as one of 17 members of his class.  Floyd Tilletson served as superintendent. Active in 4-H as a youth, Willis learned early the values of responsibility and stewardship that would guide his life. Following high school, he served six months of active duty with the Nebraska National Guard, where he was proud to serve as a cook, a role he often spoke about with fondness and humor. He remained a member of the Guard for several years thereafter.

On September 6, 1969, Willis married Joyce Anne Hawkins in Tobias, Nebraska. She was a beautiful young nurse he met in Lincoln, where she attended the Lincoln General Hospital School of Nursing. Together they built a life filled with love, faith, and family. To this union were born two sons, Brian Willis Buethe (Michelle) of Grimes, Iowa, and Daniel Scott Buethe (Laura) of Hickman, Nebraska.

Willis took tremendous pride in his family’s farm, which became a Century Farm, first purchased by his great-grandfather, Carl Buethe, on February 3, 1891. In 1991, the family was honored with the Pioneer Farm Family Award by the Knights of Aksarben and ConAgra. He served his community faithfully through the years, including with the Elk Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Elk Creek Young Men’s Club, and the Southeast Nebraska Feeders and Breeders Association. He also served in numerous leadership roles at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.

He was a longtime member of the Kenneth A. Curtis American Legion Post 2 in Tecumseh, and later of the Tracy-Bates American Legion Post 370 in Elk Creek. He and a few friends were also responsible for creating the first batch of “Elk Creek Water,” a locally famous beverage that has stood the test of time since the early 1960s — a testament to his fun-loving spirit and sense of humor.

Willis will be remembered for his kindness, humility, and mischievous sense of fun. He was known to enjoy a harmless practical joke, a good laugh, and conversations that could span everything from weather and cattle prices to who owned which farm and how every family in the area was related. He loved Elk Creek and its people deeply.

Like many people from the area, he came from a long line of Nebraska Cornhusker fans and rooted for them in all kinds of weather. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce (2022); his brother, Ronnie (2020); his parents; one infant brother; his in-laws Forest G. and Barbara (Sronce) Hawkins; and brother-in-law Douglas Fritts. He is survived by his sons and their families, including grandchildren Grace (18), Henry (15), and Lilly (14); sisters-in-law Margaret Fritts, Linda Buethe, and Diane (Bruce) Uher; four nephews and one niece and their families; along with several remaining cousins, and a host of lifelong friends and neighbors who were blessed to know him.

Willis lived his faith quietly, worked hard, loved deeply, and made his corner of the world better. He will be missed beyond measure by those who had the privilege to know and love him.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m.  Monday, October 20, 2025, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Elk Creek, Nebraska, with Rev. Tim Brisbois officiating.  The service will also be livestreamed on the St. Peter's Lutheran Facebook page for those unable to attend.   The link is also available here: https://www.facebook.com/StPetersLutheranChurchElkCreek/videos/848524567741352

Visitation will be held from 1-8 p.m., with family greeting friends from 2-4 p.m.,  Sunday, October 19, 2025 at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska. 

Interment with military honors by the Tracy-Bates American Legion Post #370 of Elk Creek and the Nebraska Army National Guard Funeral Honors Team will follow in the St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery, rural Elk Creek.  A luncheon will be served afterward in the church fellowship hall. 

Memorials may go to the family’s choice.

Online condolences may be left @www.wherrymortuary.com. 

Services are entrusted to Wherry Mortuary, Tecumseh, Nebraska.

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