“Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee, how great Thou art, how great Thou art.” These words to one of her favorite hymns became even more precious as, surrounded by her family, Lila Stoddard returned home to her Lord on Aug. 25, 2025, at the age of 94.
On April 23,1931, Lila was born to Lisle and Erma (Childerston) Pyzer in Tryon, Nebraska. Though a brother Gayle LaDean and a sister Esther Anna were lost in infancy, she grew up as the only girl in a family with four brothers, Gerald, Lenard, Loren and Lowell. She loved her big family, and she spoke often of the many things she appreciated about each of them.
After graduating from McPherson County High School in 1948, she taught in one-room school houses in McPherson and Arthur counties. In 1950 she married her high school sweetheart, Laverne Stoddard, and they were married for 59 years until his passing in 2009. They had five children Clint, Charlotte, Dan, Diane and Ron. The early years of their marriage were spent working on ranches in the Sandhills, after which they moved to California in the mid 1950s.
Lila spent the majority of her life in various locations in California, settling in Hanford, where she spent 40+ years before moving to Atascadero in 2020. She worked as an administrative secretary for Hanford Elementary School District and after retirement, she and Laverne enjoyed many years of travel across the U.S. She had an amazing capacity for remembering every journey, including details of every highway they traveled and site they visited.
Having given her heart to Jesus and being baptized at a summer camp when she was just a child, Lila lived out her faith all the rest of her days. She could be seen reading the Bible in early mornings and she prayed faithfully for her family, her friends and for the world. She had a kind heart and a generous spirit, was patient and persevering, a gentle woman who rarely spoke a harsh word. She sent hundreds of cards and letters over the years, encouraging family and friends and keeping long-held friendships intact. Her quick wit was incomparable, and she was especially known for her “one liners.”
Lila is survived by her children, Clint Stoddard (Elena), Charlotte Adams (Gary), Dan Stoddard (Jennifer), Diane Bautts (Paul) and Ron Stoddard (Pam), nine grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Laverne Stoddard, her parents Lisle and Erma Pyzer, her infant sister Esther Anna, her infant brother, Gayle La Dean, and her brothers Gerald Pzyer, Lenard Pyzer, Loren Pyzer and Lowell Pyzer.