April 9, 1930 – October 17, 2025
Billie Louise (Smith) Cripe, 95 passed away peacefully on Oct 17,2025. Born on April 9, 1930 to Howard Roy Smith and Anna Mae Bennett in Wymore, NE. The baby of seven child.
She was a trained singer and sang for military funerals and weddings. In high school she was a Drum Majorette and loved when any of her family did anything to do with music. She was a member of the LPS Mother singers.
She married the love of her life, Francis “Did” Cripe on June 4, 1949. She became a mother to Susan Ann in January 1950. Then again to Debra Kay in June 1954. In 1968 “Did” & Billie moved to Waverly, Ne and bought a little grocery store. Then later bought the Jack & Jill in Waverly. In 1975 they sold the store and moved to Lincoln, NE and she went to work for DeBrown’s Auto Sales Co. Studabaker Cars.
In 1983 she started work for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Credit Union as a receptionist where she was the first person to ever retire from there after 12 years. During those years she enjoyed lots of Husker football games, camping, boating, playing cards, golfing with “Did” and spending time with family.
After “Did” finally retired they bought a trailer in Florida to spend half the year with their daughter Debbie and grandson Mike, and his family. In the 15 years since “Did’s” passing she has enjoyed watching her Huskers no matter football or volleyball or whatever sport it was as long as it was the Huskers. She also enjoyed watching her Great Grands grow in everything they did.
Billie was proceeded in death by her parents and her brothers Harold and Benjamen and her sisters Loree, Audrey, Arlene and June. She is survived by her daughter’s Susan (Russell) Taylor, and Debra (Jim) Wynn and her 4 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She also had many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday, October 26, 2025 at Wyuka Funeral Home, Lincoln. Funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 27, 2025 at Wyuka, 3600 “O” Street, Lincoln. Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Association, American Lung Association or the American Heart Association.
Debbie & Sue,
I am sorry to hear of your mom’s passing. I have such sweet memories of your family on Dudley Street!
Please know you & your families are in my prayers.