Ida Mae Coover Killham

Ida Mae (Best) Coover Killham, 100, of Lincoln formerly of Polk, died on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at Hillcrest Firethorn Nursing Home in Lincoln. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Solt-Wagner Funeral Home in Central City with Pastor Mark Hartley officiating. Visitation will be held on Saturday, November 8th from 10:00 a.m. until service time. Interment will be held at the Polk Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.soltwagnerfuneral.com.
Ida Mae was born on March 18, 1925, to Carl and Alice (Landers) Best. She attended Central City Public Schools and graduated in 1943.
In 1944, Ida married Paul Coover. Together, they made their home on a farm six miles north of Polk, where they lived and worked side by side for 51 years. Paul passed away in 1998. Ida married Leonard Killham, and they shared several happy years together.
Ida was a woman of many talents and interests. She enjoyed bowling, crafts, painting, playing the organ, country music, dancing, cards, and bingo. Above all, her greatest joy was her family-spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren brought her endless happiness.
At the age of 13, Ida Mae was baptized and became a member of the First Baptist Church in Central City, where she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. In 1955, she joined the Methodist Church in Polk, where she served faithfully in many roles over the years. She was Chairman of the Board, President of the United Methodist Women, and Chairman of the Funeral Committee for a decade. She also taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, and participated in countless church activities, sharing her faith and kindness with all who knew her.
In 2011, Ida moved to Lincoln to be closer to her family. Her warm spirit, positive energy, and genuine love for others made her a friend to everyone she met. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and those who lovingly cared for her.
Ida is survived by her son, Larry (Bev) Coover, and daughter, Marlene Swanson (Bernie Sojka); grandchildren Edd (Shelly) Coover, Shelly (Dan) Richards, Cindy (Scott) Draper, Tamara (Paul) Van Housen, Teri (Ty) Schreiber, Gary (Staci) Powell, Linda Swanson, Rod (Sherry) Swanson and Steve (Becky) Swanson; 11 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and numerous dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Paul Coover and Leonard Killham; her parents, Carl and Alice Best; and siblings Wayne Best, Don Best, and Phyllis Flodman.