Marilyn I. Willits, 76 of New Boston, Illinois, passed away Monday, February 3, 2025, at her home, surrounded by her family. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, February 8, at the Fippinger Funeral Home in Aledo. The funeral service will directly follow at 12 p.m. Interment will be at the Greenmound Cemetery in rural Keithsburg. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be left to the MCFB Foundation – Steve & Marilyn Willits Scholarship. Online condolences can be made at www.fippingerfuneralhome.com.
Marilyn was born on May 18, 1948, in Galesburg, the daughter of Emory and Helen Murray Erickson. She graduated from ROVA High School with the class of 1966. She then attended Illinois State University, receiving a Master’s Degree in Education. On June 19, 1976, she married Steven L. Willits in Milan. They were married for 45 years until his passing on July 30, 2021.
God, farm, and family were the most important aspects of Marilyn’s life. She was a longtime member of the Seaton Presbyterian Church. While helping with the family farm, she also worked for many years as a substitute teacher for the Westmer and Aledo School Districts. In her own words, she was “blessed to have a farm life with Steve, Mat, and Paul. I saw Mat and Paul grow into fine men and fathers.”
She is survived by two sons, Mathew (Liz Epperly) Willits of Joy, Illinois, and Paul (Nadra Hebouche) Willits of Lititz, Pennsylvania; three grandsons, Ian, Christopher, and Lake Willits; three siblings, Maynard (Linda) Erickson of Sarasota, Florida, Marcia (Tom) Fox of Wataga, Illinois, and Jo Ann (Wayne) Olson of Altona, Illinois; two sisters-in-law, Sharyn (Ken) Eisdorfer of Denver, North Carolina, and Diane Burau of Kansas City, Missouri; and brother-in-law, Alan (Julie Root) Willits of Victoria, Washington. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, including Jennifer and Tom Erickson, and special friends, Paula and Stan Nelson, Jill Ogden-Collin, and Gloria Hanell.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Emory and Helen Erickson; husband, Steven Willits; grandmother, Carrie Erickson; and brother-in-law, Gary Burau.