Willa was born April 6, 1940 to Mildred Chalmers Black and Ralph Black. Later when Willa was 12 years old she was adopted by Mildred’s second husband James Morales. She was proceeded in death by her parents; and older sister Mildred Ann Foley; first husband Darold Deterding; and second husband Robert Conners. She has one brother Jim Morales, sisters Benita McAnally and Arthea Reno.
Willa married Darold Deterding in 1957. They were married at Raytown Christian Church in Raytown, Missouri. They had a total of seven children, Curtis (Jo Ann) Deterding, Marilyn (Allen) De Young, Rhonda (Justo) Gonzalez, Clayton Deterding, Bryan (Zulma) Deterding, Shawn (Patricia) Deterding, and Mike (Magin) Deterding. She was blessed with 26 grandchildren, 33 great–grand-children, and 4 great-great-grandchildren.
Willa went back to graduate High School in 1970 at Meade High School, Meade, Kansas while being a mother of six. She then obtained a Liberal Arts Associate degree in 1990 from Butler County Community College. She was an accomplished artist who created several paintings for family. She made beautiful styrofoam chrismons for the church’s chrismon tree.
Willa and Darold took in and cared for many foster children, which eventually led to the adoption of three of their children. Willa worked for Lutheran Social Services in Wichita, Kansas for a number of years.
She also served as a church secretary at Peace Lutheran Church for several years.
A visitation for Willa will be held Friday, August 6, 2021 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Lakeview Funeral Home, 12100 E 13th St. N., Wichita, KS 67206. A funeral service will occur Saturday, August 7, 2021 from 11:00 AM at Peace Lutheran Church, 405 W. 21st St., Andover, KS 67002.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MyLakeviewFuneralHome.com for the Conners family.
