Bertels 01/29/97
Emil M. Bertels, 75, died Jan. 29, 1997. His wife, Mary, survives. Also surviving are a son, Emil of Bunker Hill; a daughter Judith Ladley; a brother, Arnold; and a sister, Darlene Henke of Edwardsville. Services were in Elias-Smith in Bethalto. Memorials may be given to the Shriners' Hospital for Children.
Bertels 11/09/97
Eldor L. Bertels, 69, of Dorsey, died Nov. 9, 1997, in his home. He married Jean Buhs, who survives. He was co-owner of Bertels Sales and Service in Dorsey. Also surviving are a son, Richard of Dorsey; daughters, Joan Deist and Donna Oehler, both of Dorsey; brothers, Vernon of Bunker Hill, and Merle of Dorsey; and 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Services were through Gent. Memorials may be given to Emmaus Lutheran Church in Dorsey, and KFUO Radio in St. Louis.
Best 10/09/98
Frederick Earl Best, 81, of Bethalto, died Oct. 9, 1998, in Hampton Nursing Care Center in Alhambra. He married Ruth Welch and then Bertha Futhey, both of whom preceded him in death. Surviving are sons, Darrell of Columbia, and Rodger of Litchfield; and a sister, Margaret East of Jerseyville. Services were through Elias-Smith Funeral Home in Bethalto. Memorials may be given to First Baptist Church of Bethalto.
Betts 11/25/97
Donald Earl Betts, 41, of Quinlan, Tx., died Nov. 25, 1997, in Quinlan. He is survived by his father, Wesley of Brighton; step-mother, Joyce Betts of Brighton; a grandmother, Ellen Smith of Dongola; brothers, David, Lark and Daryl, all of Brighton; and a sister, Helen Koehler of Brighton. Services were in Elias-Smith in Alton. Memorials may be given to the Brain Injury Association of Illinois.
Betts 08/17/99
Phillip Glen Betts, 47, of Alton, died Aug. 17, 1999. He married Gail Grenzebach, who survives. Also surviving are his parents, Phillip and Gail of Godfrey; his mother-in-law, Ethel Grenzebach of East Alton; sons, Eric of Bunker Hill, and Stephen of Alton; and sisters, Christine Brand of Pekin, In., and Pamela Beiser of Godfrey.
Bextermueller 01/19/99
Bernard M. Bextermueller, 78, of West Alton, Mo., died Jan. 19, 1999, in his home. He married Inez Timmermeier, who survives. Also surviving are a son, Daniel of Florissant, Mo.; and daughters, Sandra Ray of Meadowbrook, Elaine Yarde of Bloomington, In., Donna Bell of St. Charles, Mo., and Lisa Witt of St. Peters, Mo. Services were through Fine and Quinn Chapel for Funerals in Alton. Memorials may be given to the Alzheimer's Foundation, Hospice of Southern Illinois, and Hospice of St. Charles County, Mo.
Bick 06/23/00
Mary Margret Bick, 58, of Brighton, died June 23, 2000. Her husband, James, preceded her in death. Surviving are a daughter, Lisa Kercher of Godfrey; step-daughters, Evelyn Murray of Brighton, Anna Bick of Alton, Laura Sanders of Cottage Hills, and Debra Trujillo of Pala, Ca.; a step-son, Ronald Bick of Godfrey; brothers, Donald Greeling of Krum, Tx., and Russell Greeling of Jerseyville; and sisters, Juanita Rose of Godfrey, Viola Huebner of Alton, Wanda King of Dow, and Doris Hickman of Monroe City, Mo. Services were in Paynic Home for Funerals in Rosewood Heights. Memorials may be given to Saint Anthony's Hospice in Alton.
Bierbaum 05/29/99
David A. Bierbaum, 41, of Shipman, died May 29, 1999, in Saint Anthony's Health Center in Alton. Surviving are his parents, Floyd and Marcella Paul; a sister, Karen Hickerson of Bethalto; and brothers, Glen Bierbaum of Alton, and Gerald Paul, Robert Paul, Steven Paul and Mark Paul, all of Fosterburg. Services were in Targhetta Funeral Home in Shipman. Memorials may be given to Saint Anthony's.
Biesk 03/21/01
Joe J. Biesk, 84, of Alton, died Mar. 21, 2001, in Saint Anthony's Health Center. He married Veronica Johnson, who survives. Also surviving are sons, Frances of Wood River, and Ray of Bethalto; daughters, Rosemary Williams and Theresa Nolte, both of Warrensburg, Mo., and Ivy Eberhart of Bethalto; step-daughters, Delores Benhoff of Breese, and Noreen Doherty of Stacy, Mn.; brothers, Walter of Lockport, Leonard of Norco, Ca., and Frank of Chicago, and sisters, JoAnn Koszuzek of N ashville, Fronie Paner and Lucille Halley, both of Chicago. Services were through Elias-Smith Funeral Home in Bethalto.
Billings 07/25/98
Ruth D. Billings, 76, of Alton, died July 25, 1998, in her home. Her husband, Jesse, survives. Also surviving are sons, Joe Dawson, Jr., of Wood River, and Jesse Billings of Jacksonville; a daughter, Patricia Ison of Alton; and brothers, Harold Orten of Jacksonville, Roscoe Orten, Jr., of Washington, and Russell Orten of Westminister, Co. Services were through Gent. Memorials may be given to the Cancer Society and the American Heart Association.
Billups 06/24/00
James E. Billups, 89, of Godfrey, died Dec. 24, 2000, in Alton Memorial Hospital. He married June Gantz, who preceded him in death. Surviving is a daughter, Wayne Anne Newton of Brighton. Services were in Gent Funeral Home in Alton. Memorials may be given to the United Methodist Village Supportive Service Facility in Godfrey.
Bishop 08/05/97
Viola P. Bishop, 81, of Bethalto, died Aug. 5, 1997, in Saint Anthony's Hospital in Alton. Her husband, Charles, preceded her in death. Surviving are sons, Ronald of Rosewood Heights, and Charles of Muscatine, Ia.; a daughter, Vinetta Law of Moro; sisters, Dorothy Kreis and Maxine Haury; and eight grandchildren. Services were through Elias-Smith in Bethalto. Memorials may be given to Zion Lutheran Church and school.
Bishop 10/25/97
Richard Noel Bishop, 84, of Alton, died Oct. 25, 1997, in Alton Memorial Hospital. He married Geraldine King, who survives. Also surviving are a son, Michael of Demming, N.M.; a sister, Grace Green of Alton; and eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Services were in Elias-Smith in Alton. Memorials may be given to Main Street United Methodist Church in Alton.
Bishop 11/14/98
Frances Geraldine Bishop, 85, of Deming, N.M., died Nov. 14, 1998, in her home. Her husband, Richard, preceded her in death. Surviving are a son, Michael of Deming; and a brother, Richard King of Cincinnati, Oh. Services were in Elias-Smith Funeral Home in Alton. Memorials may be given to Main Street United Methodist Church in Alton.
Blackford 06/18/99
Ollie Mae Blackford, 81, of Alton, died June 18, 1999, in Alton Memorial Hospital. Her husband, Robert, survives. Also surviving are sons, Rick of Bethalto, and Lindell of Godfrey. Services were in Gent Funeral Home in Alton.
Blackledge 06/01/99
Anna M. Blackledge, 78, of East Alton, died June 1, 1999, in Godfrey. Her husband, Arthur, preceded her in death. Surviving are daughters, Patricia Butcher of Worden, Victoria McClaine of Godfrey, and Debi Weiss of Wood River; and a sister, Lenora McFarland of Dorsey. Services were in Burke-Fine Funeral Home in Alton. Memorials may be given to charities of choice.
Blackmore 08/14/98
John G. Blackmore, 79, of Jerseyville, died Aug. 14, 1998, in Jerseyville Nursing and Rehabilitation. He married Mabel Johnson, who preceded him in death. Surviving are sons, Wade of Godfrey, and John of Des Moines, Ia.; and a brother, Allan of Canton, Mo. Services were in Elias-Smith in Godfrey.
Blair 12/14/00
Beauford D. Blair, 78, of Brighton, died Dec. 14, 2000. He married Mary Andrews, who survives. Also surviving are sons, Joe of Alton, and Jerry of Brighton; brothers, Lermond of Austin, Tx., Robert of East Alton, and John of Osage Beach, Mo.; and a sister, Beatrice Umphenour of Granite Bay, Ca. Services were in Targhetta Funeral Home in Brighton. Memorials may be given to the Shriners Hospital for Children, and the Hibbard Masonic Lodge No. 249.
Bland 02/27/97
Juliette Irene Bland, 74, died Feb. 27, 1997. She is survived by brothers, Fred Heitzman and Ed Bland, both of Dow, Bill and James Bland, both of Jerseyville, Stanley Bland of Grafton, and Jack Bland of Wickenburg, Az.; sisters, Nancy Booth and Shirley Young, both of Dow, Roberta Donelson of Godfrey, Betty Summers of Grafton, and Judy Kassler of Spanish Lake, Mo.; and a friend, Ladilav L. Pataky of Caseyville. Services were in Elias-Smith Funeral Home in Alton. Memorials may be given to charities of choice.
Blasingim 01/19/98
Virgle M. Blasingim, 86, of Cottage Hills, died Jan. 19, 1998, in Saint Anthony's. Her husband, Luther, preceded her in death. Surviving are sons, Charles and David, both of Bethalto, Edward Blasingim and Bill Hunter, both of East Alton, Bill of Cottage Hills, and Ronald of Ft. Walton Beach, Fl.; daughters, Ruth Collins of Plainview, and Dorothy Whyers and Mary Bricker, both of Cottage Hills; and 26 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren and one great, great-grandchild. Services were through Elias-Smith in Bethalto. Memorials may be given to First Southern Baptist Church of Forest Homes in Cottage Hills.
