B. Ila McDermott

B. Ila McDermott, age 80, of Oto, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, June 1, 2019, at the Correctionville Specialty Care of Correctionville, IA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 8, 2019, at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church of Anthon, IA. Father Richard D. Ball will officiate. Committal will follow in the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery of Oto, Iowa. A Visitation will be held on Friday, June 7, 2019, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., followed by a Rosary at 7:00 p.m., at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church of Anthon, IA. The Armstrong - Van Houten Funeral Home of Anthon, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online www.armstrongfuneral.com. Bertha Ila McDermott was born March 12, 1939, in Oto, Iowa, the daughter of Harold O. and Rozella M. (Downing) Lillie. She grew up in Oto and Sioux City and graduated from Oto High School. On May 16, 1957, she married her high school sweetheart Tom McDermott at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Oto, Iowa. Five children were born to this union: Tina, Tony, Susie, Joe and Pat. Ila was a loving and caring mother that cherished the time spent with all her family. She raised her two grandchildren, Peter and Maggie, after her daughter Tina was unable to and passed away on July 21, 1998. Ila’s husband, Tom, passed away on June 6, 2000. Ila was the secretary at the Oto center of the Anthon-Oto Community School District and an aide in the Anthon center when the Oto location closed. Ila was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Oto and served as an organist. She was a member of the Altar Society and Catholic Daughters until the closing of the church. She then became a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Anthon, Iowa. Ila was also a member of the Henry V. McKenna American Legion Auxiliary in Oto. Those survivors left to cherish her memory include her children Tony McDermott of Sergeant Bluff, IA; Susie Douglas of Oto, IA, Joe (Cinda) McDermott of Oto, IA and Pat (Debbie) McDermott of Mankato, MN; 15 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren; sister Marge King of Kingsley, IA; brother Ray (Dianna) Lillie of Kasota, MN; sisters-in-law Janet Lillie of Anthon, IA, Joy Lillie of Sioux City, IA, Retha Lillie of Pearland, TX; many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Harold and Rozella Lillie; husband Tom McDermott; daughter Tina McDermott; brothers Hollis, Gerald and Richard Lillie; brother-in-law Roger King; and other extended family.