Obituaries - Be

Forty Years Ago - John Beard, aged 67 years, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. James Stults, in the Barr vicinity. [19 Mar 1948]

Died — At his home in Fayette, Greene County, Illinois on the 17th day of October 1862, Bro. David W. Bees, (64?) years, 7 months, and 12 days. [1862]

Mrs. Annie E. Bell, aged 77 years died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Wiliam H. Groppel, in this city Friday evening, April 21, at 6:30 o’clock. Although Mrs. Bell had been in ill health for sometime, her condition did not become serious until a few days before her death.
The deceased was the daughter of the late Eber and Hannah Dohniera Tiff, and was born in New York on June 2, 1855. Mrs. Bell was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Bell. Besides her daughter, Mrs. Gropel, the deceased is survived by one son, Eber Bell, of Jerseyville.
Funeral services were held from the Groppel home to Jacoby Brothers Chapel, Sunday afternoon, April 23, at 2:30 o’clock. Rev. C. C. Dawdy officiated and interment was in Oak Grove Cemetery. [27 Apr 1933]

Fatal Accident - Last Saturday evening a little daughter of Henry Bell, aged about three years, living on Prairie Street in this city, met with an accident that resulted in her death. Her mother had a pitcher that had been mended with glue or cement filled with boiling coffee which melted the cement and the pitcher fell to pieces, the contents of which went over the little girl burning her very bad about the heart. Dr. Van Horne was called upon and did all that human wisdom could to alleviate the pain of the child. She lingered until Monday night when death relieved her of her sufferings. [Jersey County Democrat 28 Feb 1869]

Killed – A little boy named Samuel Bell was killed at the railroad on day last week. He had climbed onto the side of a freight car and was crushed between the car and the platform in front of Van Pelt’s warehouse. [Jerseyville Republican 1868]

Thos. Bell, aged 45 years, died Friday of consumption and was buried by the Good Templar Lodge Saturday. [Calhoun Herald 11 Jul 1865]

Benner Infant Dies (b/d. 19 August 1956) - Beverly Jean Benner, daughter born to Mr. and Mrs. Lynus Benner Sunday at Boyd Memorial hospital, died soon after birth. The body was moved to the Simpson funeral Home and graveside services were held Monday afternoon at Richwood cemetery, the Rev. Glenn Manis officiating.

ALVIN H "COTTON" BENSA, 68, DIED JAN 21, 1986, AT HIS RESIDENCE. HE WAS A PAINTER, BORN IN EDWARDSVILLE, A SON OF THE LATE WILLIAM & BERTHA (DALHAUS) BENSA. HE MARRIED RUBY (DESHERLIA), MARCH 6, 1936, AND SHE PRECEDED HIM IN DEATH. HE THEN MARRIED NORMA (RETHERFORD) WINTERS BENSA NOV 21, 1964, IN JERSEYVILLE. SURVIVING ARE HIS WIFE; 1 SON, ROBERT BENSA OF GREENVILLE; 4 DAU, SHIRLEY RHOADS OF E ALTON, CAROL JOCKISCH OF COTTAGE HILLS, JERRY CARVER OF GLENWOOD, CA AND BEA MOORE OF GARLAND, TX; 2 STEP DAU, DORIS FRAZIER OF JERSESYVILLE AND ANN WEBER, CARROLLTON; 23 GRANDCHILDREN; 12 GRANDCHILDREN; AND 1 SIS, MABEL SHEPARD OF HUFTON, ID. VISITATION WAS FROM Jacoby Brothers Funeral Home in Jerseyville. ---INCOMPLETE--

Fred "Chief" BENZ, 88, died Friday, Dec. 5, 2003, at Golden Moments Senior Care Center in Jacksonville, Ill. He was born in Kampsville on July 24, 1915, the youngest child of the late Joseph and Mary Marsching Benz. He married the former Helen J. Kohnen in St. Louis on Dec. 15, 1946. She preceded him in death on Oct. 17, 1993. He grew up on a farm north of Kampsville in a log cabin built by his father. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, and in 1942 was happy to be drafted into the Army Air Corps. He served as an airplane mechanic in Texas and Spokane, Wash. He retired in 1977 after 25 years at McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft, now Boeing, in St. Louis. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, working on small engines, gardening, going to the Carrollton Auction Barn, wild game suppers, and visiting family and friends. He is survived by two daughters, Mary (Charles) Cox of Dixon, Ill., and Alice (David) Massey of Jacksonville, Ill.; five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson, a sister, Anna Halsey of Pittsfield; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by an infant son, Robert; four brothers, Joe, Aloys, Frank and Art; and four sisters, Sophia Klaas, Bertha Behnen, Catherine Tepen, and Marie Wyatt.
Cremation rites were accorded as per his request. The family will greet friends from 9 a.m. until time of a memorial Mass at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. John’s Catholic Church in Carrollton. Burial rites will follow at St. John’s Cemetery, with full military rites provided by the Carrollton American Legion Post. Memorials may be made to St. John’s Church or St. John’s School Tuition Assistance Fund. Condolences may be left online at www.airsman-hires.com. Airsman-Hires Funeral Home in Carrollton is in charge of arrangements.

Judge BERDAN died this week, lived in Jacksonville, our town named after him.[Gazette 30 Aug 1884]

Greene Prairie Press - White Hall IL February 3, 1999

Carl Richard "Red" BERRY, 71, of Kane, died Friday morning, Jan. 29, 1999, at Alton Memorial Hospital.

He was born Feb. 27, 1927, in Carrollton, the son of Theodore and Lucille Turner Berry. He married Iva Dean Daniels on Dec. 22, 1947, in Carrollton, and she survives.

He is also survived by three sons, David of Carrollton, Roger of Brighton, Rick of Kane; two daughters, Retha of Grafton and Nancy Reno of Carrollton; eight grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and one sister, Lucille LaBarbera of St. Louis, MO. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Ted, Granville, William and Dale; and one sister, Henrietta Fleak.

Mr. Berry graduated from Carrollton High School in 1944. He enlisted in the US Army shortly after WW II and was stationed in Japan luring the occupation of Hiroshima.

He began working at Caterpillar Co. in Peoria, and in 1952 he began a 36-year career at Laclede Steel Co. in Alton, retiring on Jan. 1, 1986 from the wire mill. He was a member of the Kane Baptist Church, the American Day Lily Society, and an avid sports fan, and especially enjoyed watching his alma mater, the Carrollton Hawks, sports teams.

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, 1999, at the Crawford-Holden Funeral Home in Jerseyville with burial at Kane Cemetery where full military rites were conducted by the Jerseyville American Legion post No. 492 and VFW Post No. 4528.

Memorials are suggested to the Carrollton Community Unit Sports Boosters in care of the funeral home.

HAROLD B BERRY, 65, OF JERSEYVILLE, DIED JUNE 29 AT CHRISTIAN NE HOSP IN ST LOUIS. HE WAS BORN JUNE 24, 1920, IN ALTON SON OF STHE LATE HARRY F BERRY & MATTIE JOHNSON. HE WAS A VETERAN OF WW II AND AN ELECTRICAL SUPERVISOR AT LACLEDE STEEL FOR 41 YRS. HE MARRIED BONNIE STEINGRUBEY ON SEPT 29, 1951, IN ALTON. HE WAS A MEMBER OF ST FRANCIS CHURCH, JERSEYVILLE AND THE CARROLLTON COMM CHORUS. SURVIVORS ARE HIS WIFE, BONNIE OF JERSEYVILLE; 2 DAU, ANDREA BERRY OF ZILLAH, WA, AND MARGARET BERRY OF JERSEYVILLE; 2 SIS, PAULINE GURGANUS OF FOSTERBURG AND VIOLA BRUMMER OF NORTH PEKIN; AND 1 GRAND DAUGHTER. VISITATION AND ROSARY WERE HELD AT Jacoby Brothers Funeral Home in Jerseyville. THE FUNERAL MASS WAS HELD IN ST FRANCIS CHURCH WITH REV PATRICK MORROW AS CENCELEBRANT. BURIAL WAS IN ST FRANCIS CEM. Memorials may be given to ST FRANCIS DECORATING FUND.

JOHN C BERRY, 39, OF COTTAGE HILLS WAS PRONOUNCED DIED JULY 19, AT THE SCENE OF A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT IN BETHALTO. HE WAS A RIDER ON THE MOTORCYCLE INVOLVED. HE WAS A FOREMAN AT OLIN CORP, WHERE HE HAD BEEN EMPLOYED FOR 13 YRS. HE WAS BORN IN CARROLLTON, A SON OF RUTH (STONE) MAUPIN OF COTTAGE HILLS AND THE LATE ROBERT C BERRY. BESIDES HIS MOTHER, HE IS SURVIVED BY 1 DAU, SONYA BERRY OF WOOD RIVER; 1 SON, JOHN JR, AT HOME; 4 SIS, SANDRA STEWART, PEGGY JEAN BERRY AND MARY C DREW, ALL OF COTTAGE HILLS AND MINNIE BELLE SHEPPARD OF MORO; AND 3 BRO, HERMAN R OF BETHALTO, PATRICK OF COTTAGE HILLS AND DANIEL OF GILLETTE, WY. SERVICES WERE HELD AT GENT FUNERAL HOME, ALTON WHERE REV DALE WILFORN OFFICIATED. BURIAL WAS IN ROSE LAWN MEMORY GARDENS.

DAREL P BERTHOUX, 22, CITY CLERK OF JERSEYVILLE DIED APR 19 [1961], AT JERSEY COMM HOSP. HE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A 2 CAR CRASH NEAR THE HOME OF MR & MRS EDWARD CRONE, 3 MI NORTH OF JERSEYVILLE. HE DIED OF HIS INJURIES AT 11:45 THAT NIGHT. ALSO INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT WAS MRS SAMUEL (SHIRLEY WELLER) CLOSSER OF HILLVIEW. CITY CLERK BERTHOUX WAS ENROUTE TO HIS HOME FROM JACKSONVILLE WHERE HE HAD GONE EARLIER IN THE EVE TO ACCOMPANY HIS SISTER, DIANE, BACK TO ILLINOIS COLLEGE WHERE SHE WAS A STUDENT. THEY, WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THEIRFAMILY, HAD BEEN IN HIGHLAND IN THE AFTERNOON TO ATTEND THE FUNERAL OF THEIR PATERNAL GRANDMOTHE, MRS LENA BERTHOUX, WHOSE DEATH OCCURRED ON MON AM. HE WAS ALONE AT THE STIME OF THE ACCIDENT. SURVIVING IN ADDITION TO HIS PARENTS AND SISTER DIANE, IS ANOTHER SIS, MRS GERALD (DORIS) EDMUNDS OF JERSEYVILLE; AND 3 BRO, DUANE BERTHOUX, MRMBER OF THE JERSEYVILLE POLICE DEPT, DALE, PHOTOGRAPHER ANDADVERTISING SOLICITOR FOR THE DEMOCRAT NEWS, AND DANN, A 7th GRADE STUDENT AT JERSEYVILLE EAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. DAREL RECEIVED HIS EDUCATION IN JERSEYVILLE SCHOOLS. HE SERVED 6 MO ACTIVE DUTH WITH THE UNITED STAT4S MARINE CORPS AND WAS A MEMBER OF THE ACTIVE RESERVES. THE YOUNG MAN WAS APPOINTED TO THE POSITION OF CITY CLERK BY MAYOR JAMES DOLAN. VISITATION AND SERVICES WERE HELD AT Gubser Funeral Home in Jerseyville. REV M EDWARDS BREED OFFICIATED. BURIAL WAS IN OAK GROVE CEM.

DORIS B BERTMAN, CO OWNER WITH HER SON, ROBERT, IN BERTMAN'S DEPT STORE IN JERSEYVILLE DIED AT GREENWOOD MANOR, MAY 21. MRS BERTMAN, WIDOW OF HERBERT C BERTMAN WHOSE DEATH OCCURRED IN 1958, HAD LIVED IN THE FAMILY HOME UNTIL ILL HEALTH HAD REQUIRED HOSP AND NURSING CARE FOR THE PAST FEW YRS. A DAU OF THE LATE THOMAS B & DORA J RUYLE, SHE WAS BORN IN RUYLE TWSP ON JAN 26, 1908. SHE WAS GRADUATED FROM JERSEY TWSP HIGH SCHOOL AND THE NURSING SCHOOL AT ST ANN HOSP IN ST LOUIS. HER MARRIAGE TO MR BERTMAN TOOK PLACE AT ST FRANCIS XAVIER CHURCH. SHE IS SURVIVED BY 3 SONS, JOHN OF OVERLAND PARK, KS, ROBERT AND CHARLES OF JERSEYVILLE; 3 DAU, MRS LAWRENCE (MARY ANN) PRANGER OF JERSEYVILLE, MRS RONALD(PATRICIA) TURNER OF KANE AND MRS LARRY (MARILYN) DAVIS OF DOW; AND 16 GRANDCHILDREN. SHE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HER HUSBAND; 1 DAU, CAROLYN JANE, HER PARENTS AND 2 BRO, HERBERT AND STRAIT RUYLE. MASS OF THE RESURRECTION WAS CONCELEBRATED MAY 23, AT ST FRANCIS CHURCH. RT REV MSGR JOHN BERTMAN OF QUINCY CONCELEBRATED THE MASS WITH FATYHER TERRY SHEA OF GODFREY AND FATHER GEORGE RADOSEVICH OF JERSEYVILLE; BURIAL WAS IN ST FRANCIS CEM. THE ROSARY WAS RECITED SUN EVE AT Jacoby Brothers Funeral Home in Jerseyville. Memorials may be given to ST FRANCIS BUILDING FUND. MRS BERTMAN WAS A DEVOUT MEMBER OF THE CHURCH AND HAD SHOWN GREAT INTEREST IN THE ADDITION TO AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCHOOL.

John F. Bertman, one of Rockbridge's most valued citizens, died at his home on Thursday, January 5th. He was aged 75 years, 7 months and 10 days and was survived by his wife, two sons and five daughters. [02 Jan 1948]

JOHN F BERTMAN, 76, BUSINESSMAN OF ROCKBRIDGE, DIED THURS AT HIS HOME THERE. HE WAS BORN IN JERSEYVILLE, A SON OF FREDERICK JOHN & HELEN (GOETTEN) BERTMAN, WHO WERE EARLY RESIDENTS OF JERSEYVILLE. HE MARRIED MARIE (MASSEY) BERTMAN MAY 27, 1875. THEY WERE PARENTS OF 11 CHILDREN AND 7 SURVIVE; MRS GEORGE MAYOB OF MARSHALL, MO, MRS GARRET WELCH OF PLAINVIEW, IL, MRS MARIE CAMPBELL OF PITTSFIELD, IL, MRS JAMES HEAVENER OF ST LOUIS, MO, MRS E Q SLONE OF CARROLLTON, ROY A BERTMAN OF ROCKBRIDGE, IL AND HENRY E BERTMAN OF MARSHALL, MO; 9 GRANDCHILDREN AND 1 SIS, MRS NELLIE B PORTER OF JERSEYVILLE. HE WAS A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS MAN AND CITIZEN OF ROCKBRIDGE FOR 40 YRS, AS MANAGER OF STANARD-TILTON ELEVATOR, MEMBER OF BOARD OF EDUCATION, MAYOR OF ROCKBRIDGE AND VILLIAGE TRUSTEE. SERVICES WERE HELD AT HOLY GHOST CHURCH, THE SERVICES IN ROCKBRIDGE BEING HELD AT HIS HOME BY REV ENRIGHT. THE BODY WAS BROUGHT TO THE RESIDENCE OF MR BERTMAN'S SISTER, MRS NELLIE PORTER, ON W PEARL ST IN JERSEYVILLE. PALLBEARERS WERE: GEORGE MAYOB OF MARSHALL, MO, GARRETT WELCH OF PLAINVIEW, IL, JAMES HEAVENER OF ST LOUIS, MO, E A SLONE OF CARROLLTON, JOSEPH BREW OF PITTSFIELD, IL, AND FRED ECK OF JERSEYVILLE.

Mrs. Charles Besaw of Grafton Died in Alton Monday - Mrs. Bessie Marie Besaw, wife of Charles P. Besaw, jr., of Grafton, died Monday evening, January 18 at 8:25 o’clock at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Alton where she had been a patient for thirty days.
Funeral rites are being held this (Thursday) morning at 9:30 o’clock at Jacoby Brothers Funeral Home with Rev. Father Anthony Schmidt of Grafton officiating. Interment will be in Valhalla Memorial Park.
Mrs. Besaw was a daughter of the late Thomas and Mary Macher Plummer and was born in Batchtown on November 1, 1905. Her age at the time of death was fifty-eight years, two months and seventeen days. Mrs. Besaw was a member of American Legion Auxilliary of Whalen Hill Post. No. 648 of Grafton.
Surviving her in addition to her husband are one son, James A. Dille of Green Bay, Wisc., one daughter Mrs. James D. Clayton of Bethalto, one brother and one sister, Paul Plummer and Mrs. Benjamin Carey, both of Grafton and six grandchildren. [21 Jan 1964]

ENOS EDWARD BESTERFELDT, OF JACKSONVILLE, FORMERLY OF JERSEY CO, DIED JUNE 3 AT NORRIS HOSP IN JACKSONVILLE. HE HAD A PATIENT THERE SINCE JUNE 1. FUNERAL SERVICES WERE HELD AT WILLIAMSON FUNERAL HOME IN JACKSONVILLE WITH RECV WILLIAM J BOSTON OF THAT CITY OFFICIATING. INTERMENT WAS IN CARROLLTON CITY CEM. HE WAS A SON OF THE LATE ALBERT & BESSIE (ROWLAND) BESTERFELDT AND WAS BORN AT JERSEYVILLE MAY 16, 1912. SURVIVING ARE HIS WIFE, MRS MILDRED (KINCADE) BE STERFELDT OF JACKSONVILLE, 1 SON, JERRY OF ALTON BY A PREVIOUS MARRIAGE, 1 STEPSON, DON BESTERFELDT OF WINCHESTER, 1 BRO, WARNER BESTERFELDT AND 1 SIS MRS EVA STARK, BOTH OF ALTON.

MRS SALINDA BESTERFELDT, 78, DIED JUNE 29 [1921] AT THE HOME OF HER DAU, MRS GEO WINGER OF ALTON. SHE WAS A NATIVE OF KANE. SHE LEAVES 7 CHILDREN. THE FUNERAL WAS AT ELSAH.

HENRY THOMAS BESTERFELDT, 3 YRS, 4 MO, 26 DAYS,SON OF WARNER BESTERFELDT AND THE LATE MARGARET (SHERMAN) BESTERFELDT, DIED MAY 25, AT THE HOME OF HIS PARENTS SOUTH OF JERSEYVILLE. AN INQUEST IS PENDING. THE CHILD WAS BORN IN GREENE CO ON DEC 29, 1947. SURVIVING ARE HIS FATHER, WARNER BESTERFELDT, HIS STEPMOTHER MARY (GROPPEL) BESTERFELDT; 1 BRO, WILLIAM CURTIS; 1 SIS, MYRTLE; HIS PATERNAL GRANDMOTHER, MRS BESSIE BESTERFELDT OF ALTON, AND HIS MATERNAL GRANDFATHER, WILLIAM SHERMAN OF GODFREY. FUNERAL SERVICES WERE HELD AT Gubser Funeral Home in Jerseyville. REV F W SCHWARZLOSE OFFICIATED AND INTERMENT WAS IN OAK GROVE CEM.

The Telegraph, September 19, 2003, Wood River
Charlotte May BEYER
, 75, died at 6:06 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2003, at Saint Anthony’s Health Center in Alton.
She was born Nov. 19, 1927, in Alton to Earl and Hazel (Scoggins) McCoy.
She married John Dale Beyer on Nov. 24, 1945, in Wood River. He died Nov. 30, 1993.
She was an avid bowler and enjoyed playing bingo. She was devoted to her family and was active in the PTA and Girl Scouts of America while raising her children.
Survivors include four daughters and their spouses, Sharon and Wes Vandygriff of East Alton, Linda and Terry Brown and Patty and David Dial, both of Wood River, and Debbie and James Abner of Edwardsville; one son and his wife, Kenneth and Connie Beyer of Brighton; 11 grandchildren and two step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Jacqueline Atkinson of Rosewood Heights.
She was also preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Eugene McCoy.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until services at 1 p.m. Saturday at Marks Mortuary in Wood River. The Rev. Daniel Bowers will officiate.
Burial will be at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto.
Memorials may be given to Greenwood Manor West Care Center Activity Fund.

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