Billie Dee (Wilma) Baumert, 87, of Howells, died Monday, September 22, 2025 at Franciscan Healthcare in West Point.  Funeral Mass will be 10:30am on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church with Rev. Walter Jong-A-Kiem as celebrant.  Burial will be at Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery with lunch following at the Howells Catholic Social Center (320 S. 2nd St.)  Visitation with family present will be Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm with a Vigil Service at 7:00pm at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.  A prayer service will be held on Sunday, September 28 at 6:30pm at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 18602 W. Maple Rd., Elkhorn, NE.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Howells Community Catholic School Capital Campaign or Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.  Arrangements by Stokely Funeral Home.

Billie Dee Baumert was born on May 21, 1938, to J. Michael and Wilma (Barrett) Loftus in North Platte, Nebraska. Her childhood was spent in several cities and states as her father’s career with Union Pacific Railroad took the family across the country.  Billie Dee graduated from high school in Cortland where she won the Nebraska Betty Crocker Homemakers of Tomorrow award, a recognition that earned her a trip to the national competition in Washington, D.C.

Billie Dee met George Baumert while they were both students at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The couple married on August 29, 1957, at St. James Catholic Church in Cortland, Nebraska. In the fall of 1959, they moved to the farm near Howells, where they built a life together, raising their children and working side-by-side.

While raising her children, Billie Dee was a devoted mother and active 4-H leader.  As her children grew older and entered school, Billie Dee pursued a variety of professional opportunities. Over the years, she worked at Otradovsky & Bieber Attorney, Vacin’s, Grovijohn Feeds, and Stanton-Clarkson Veterinary Clinic. She was very involved in the local 81-91 Pork Producers, Nebraska Pork Producers, and National Pork Producers Associations, where she held multiple offices.

Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to launch her own accounting business and to share her creativity through her quilting business, The Farmer’s Wife.

Billie Dee was a member of Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Howells and Christian Mothers. She deepened her spiritual journey by attending the Walk to Emmaus Christian Retreat. Following George’s passing, she moved to Bennington and became a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Elkhorn where she participated in Alpha.

Billie Dee loved to travel and was an avid quilter and reader.

She is survived by her children, Mike Baumert of Gillette, WY, Dr. Dave Baumert of Howells, Sue (Jim) Miller of North Platte, Andy Baumert of Omaha, Jerome (Karen) Baumert of Howells, Kaye (Larry) Stuchl of Columbus, and Christa (Dale) Monti of Bennington; sister, Virginia “Gin” Crawford of Fairfield, CA; brother-in-law, Ron (Janice) Baumert of Howells; 20 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren, with one more on the way; 2 great-great-grandchildren; 3 nieces and 4 nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, J. Michael and Wilma (Barrett) Loftus; husband, George; great-granddaughter, Nekcol Locken; and daughter-in-law, Julie Baumert.