Edwin Billinger passed away Sunday, February 19, 2012, in the Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital at WaKeeney, KS, at the age of 91. He was born December 27, 1920, in Victoria, KS, to the late Peter and Frances (Weigel) Billinger. He moved to Trego County with his family at the age of 5 and resided in the Trego County area his entire life.


As a child, Ed attended schools in rural Trego County. He entered into the United States Army during WWII and always felt so honored to have served his country. Later, Ed started farming and raising cattle with his father. His face was always beaming with a broad smile when he would tell the story of how he started farming using horses and then finishing his farming career experiencing implements equipped with GPS systems.


On June 4, 1946, Ed was united in marriage to Loretta Bollig in Collyer, KS. Together they farmed near Collyer until moving to WaKeeney in 1996.


Edwin was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church in Collyer, Christ the King Catholic Church, the 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus, and the Randall Reid VFW Post #3449, all in WaKeeney.

A treasured friend of many, Ed is survived by his wife, Loretta, of WaKeeney; sons, Kenneth and wife Marilyn, of Norman, OK, Randy of Broomfield, CO, Glennis and wife, Beth, of WaKeeney; daughters, Frances Dick and husband Roger, of St. John, KS, Karen Brown and husband Romie, Sr., of LaVista, NE; twelve grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and a sister, Bernice Stithem and husband, Ray, of WaKeeney.

Visitation is 5-7:30 P.M. Friday, February 24, 2012 at Schmitt Funeral Home, WaKeeney, with a Rosary at 7:30 and Vigil Service at 8:00 P.M.

Services will be 10:30 A.M., Saturday, February 25, 2012 in St. Michaels Catholic Church at Collyer, KS.

Memorials are suggested to the Trego County Lemke Memorial LTC or Christ the King CYO and can be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 N 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.