Bettye Seastrand

Bettye Seastrand

ST. JOSEPH – Bettye Marie Seastrand, 90, a longtime resident of St. Joseph, passed away in her beloved home on Wednesday morning (July 9, 2014) with her husband, daughter and son-in-law by her side.
Bettye was born in Kansas City, Mo., on May 26, 1924. She met and married her husband Daniel when he was stationed in Kansas City during World War II. They were married on Aug. 20, 1945, and moved to Aledo, Ill. They moved to St. Joseph in 1962.
Bettye worked as an insurance broker in Champaign for many years. After retirement, she opened the Rose Cottage Antiques Store in St. Joseph.
Bettye, along with her husband and daughter, was a charter member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. In 2007, she was named St. Joseph's Citizen of the Year.
Bettye is survived by her husband, Dan; daughter, Laura Ann Missitzis and son-in-law, Lambros Missitzis of Chicago; brother, Dean Hunter of Denver; and many friends in St. Joseph.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Laura Stenzel Hunter; father, Frank Hunter; stepmother, Anna Hunter; son, Donald Seastrand; and brothers, Richard Hunter and Hal Hunter.
Funeral services will be held at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 12, with Pastor Seth Jersild officiating. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Patterson Cemetery, St. Joseph.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be given to the Aleluya Ministries, 310 O'Hara Drive, Pharr, TX 78577, or to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in St. Joseph.
Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph, is in charge of arrangements.

Nata Swearingen

Nata Swearingen

URBANA – Nata Marie Swearingen, 97, passed away on Monday, June 16, 2014, at Champaign-Urbana Nursing and Rehab, Savoy.
Nata's husband, Dwayne Swearingen, preceded her in death in 1976.
Survivors include Roy Charles, brother, and Neva Hayes and other nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. June 30, 2014, at Patterson Cemetery, St. Joseph.

Mickie Shobe

Mickie Shobe

CASEY – Mickie Lynne Shobe, 57, of Casey passed away at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday (June 25, 2014) at her home, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born Jan. 31, 1957, in Terre Haute, Ind., the daughter of Norval Gene Chapman and Marlene Maye Repp Chapman. On April 21, 1979, she married Kenneth Dean Shobe in Hazel Dell, Ill.
Survivors include her devoted husband of 35 years, Kenny Shobe of Casey; son, Brian Shobe, and wife Kacey and their children, Mackenzie and Mason of Casey; son, Brent Shobe of Casey; mother and stepfather, Marlene and David Chapman of Ogden; stepmother, Lillie Chapman of Charleston; brother, Richard Chapman and fiance Pam of Broadlands; sisters, Marsha Silver and husband Bob of Champaign, Angie Norman of Monticello and Penny Vickers and husband Jim of Ogden; uncles and aunts, Rusty and Carol Miller of Casey and Charles and Connie Chapman of Hazel Dell; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and co-workers. She was preceded in death by her father.
Mickie was a 1975 graduate of St. Joseph-Ogden High School. She worked for the Casey IGA, Kern Manufacturing and Charles Marine and was most recently a bookkeeper for the Casey State Bank. She was a member of the Casey First Christian Church, the Wednesday morning prayer group and Disciples in Action. Mickie enjoyed making bracelets, riding motorcycles, spending time at the beach, visiting Disney World and most of all being a mother and grandmother.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday, June 30, 2014, at the First Christian Church, with Pastor Jan Harris officiating. Burial will follow in the Casey Cumberland Cemetery, Casey. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the First Christian Church, 200 SE Eighth St., Casey.
Memorial donations may be made to the First Christian Church, 200 SE Eighth St., Casey, IL 62420, or to Carle Hospice, 206a W. Anthony Drive, Champaign, IL 61822.
To view the full obituary, send a condolence message, light a candle or post photos, visitwww.markwellfuneralhome.com.
Markwell Funeral Home of Casey is in charge the arrangements.

Marilyn Britt

Marilyn Britt

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Marilyn A. (Huls) Britt, 82, of Terre Haute, Ind., passed away late Wednesday morning (June 25, 2014) in Union Hospital, Terre Haute. She was the co-owner of Britt Airways and was also president of Britt Farms.
Marilyn was born Dec. 17, 1931, in Royal, to Harm J. Huls and Bertha Franzen Huls. Her husband, William C. Britt, preceded her in death on April 14, 2012.
Survivors include her four children and their spouses, Vickie and Douglas Miller of Indianola, Kenneth and Kathie Britt of Terre Haute, Ind., Daniel and Kimberly Britt of New York, N.Y., and James and Linda Britt of Noblesville, Ind.; a brother, Elvin Huls, and his wife, Bernice, of Ogden; a brother-in-law, Junior Duitsman of St. Joseph; 10 grandchildren, Elizabeth Hawk and her husband, David, Amy Cornell and her husband, Matthew, Emilie Britt, Laura Britt, Amber Britt and her husband, Jeremy, Charles Britt, Westley Britt, Erin Britt, Connor Britt and Kelsey Britt; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Charlene Duitsman.
Marilyn was a graduate of Ogden High School and had previously worked at Montgomery Ward and Vercoa Air Service. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and Country Club of Terre Haute, where she participated in the ladies golf league. Marilyn loved to sew, especially when creating Halloween and Christmas costumes for her family. She also enjoyed cooking and entertaining for her family and friends. Marilyn was a devoted mother, grandmother and friend.
Funeral services will be conducted at 7 p.m. Monday, June 30, 2014, at Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home, 605 S. 25th St., Terre Haute, Ind., with Pastor Dana Newhouse officiating. Burial will take place at 11 a.m. (CDT) Tuesday, July 1, 2014, in St. John's Cemetery in Royal. Visitation is scheduled prior to services on Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. in the funeral home.
The family kindly requests that memorial contributions may be made to Riley Children's Foundation, 30 S. Meridian St., Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN 46204-3509, or to Danville Area Community College, c/o Nursing Program, 2000 E. Main St., Danville, IL 61832-5199, or to the charity of your choice.
Funeral information is also available at www.callahanandhughes.com.

Minnie Loeschen

Minnie Loeschen

ROYAL – Minnie Loeschen, 96, of Royal passed away on Tuesday (June 17, 2014) at her home.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 21, 2014, at St. John Lutheran Church Royal with Pastor Jay Johnson officating. Burial will be in St. John Cemetery, Royal. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the church. Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph, is in charge of arrangements.
Minnie was born Dec. 16, 1917, at Gifford, the daughter of Willm and Hiske Franzen. She married William B. Loeschen on June 27, 1936. He preceded her in death on July 27, 1990.
She is survived by her daughters, Diane (Richard) Freeman of Homer and Lucille Brewer of Carmel, Ind.; four grandchildren, Karin Fish, Patricia (Dan) Rang, Judith (Mark) Metzger and Brenda (Geoff) Brieden; 10 great-grandchildren, Kelly (Jacob) Hubert, Audra (Douglas) Cisna, Allison and Alexa Rang, Douglas (Jocey) Metzger, Ryan Metzger, Nicholas Metzger, Anna Brieden, Harry Brieden and Eric Brieden; and three great-great-grandchildren, Livia Grace Hubert, Finley Faith Hubert and Riayn Claire Cisna.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Albert, Ehm and Dick Franzen; and two sisters, Tena Osterbur and Anna Frerichs.
Minnie was a member of St. John Lutheran Church Royal. She enjoyed playing cards, gardening and flowers. Minnie was a longtime member of Loners on Wheels.
Memorials can be made to the LivLife Foundation, 11098 Lemongrass Rosco, Il 61073.

Donald Tate

Donald Tate

HOMER – Donald Ray Tate, 84, of Homer passed away at 10:05 a.m. Friday (June 13, 2014) at his home.
There will be a funeral service at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 17, at the Homer United Methodist Church. Rev. Teri Shane and Rev. Steve Burwell will officiate. The burial will be in the G.A.R. Cemetery in Homer. There will be a visitation from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Kirby Funeral Home, 708 S. Main St., Homer.
Donald was born on Dec. 25, 1929, to Ray and Priscilla Hiser Tate. He married Joan Wiese on Feb. 8, 1952, at Homer. She survives.
Also surviving are four children, Melinda (Chris) Lower, Amy (Andy) Scott, Sharon Tate and Darrin (Pam) Tate. His grandchildren are Courtney Srum, Christopher Scott, Rebecca (Robert) Smith, Jason (Joy) Lower, Aaron (Roberta) Lower, Jonathon (Erin) Lower, Aubrey Tate, Gracie Tate and Loran Tate. He was also the proud great-grandfather of six great-grandchildren.
Donald is also survived by two sisters, Elizabeth (Willard) Rothermel of Savoy and Barbara (Jim) Downs of Broadlands.
Mr. Tate was preceded in death by his parents and his stepmother, Julia Tate.
Donald was an Army veteran who served from 1951 to 1953, returning to Homer to farm the family farm. He was a graduate of the University of Illinois.
He was an active member of his community, including serving on the Homer School Board for several years and the Homer Fire Board. He was also an active member of the Homer United Methodist Church.
Donald enjoyed farming and traveling.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Homer United Methodist Church or Homer Fire and Rescue.

Elnora Felkner

Elnora Felkner

NEWMAN – Born Dec. 29, 1921, Elnora Hanna Felkner was called home by her Lord and Savior on Wednesday (June 11, 2014).
She was the second of three children born to Elsie Weber Hanna and Raymond Hanna at their home in Paris, Ill., in Edgar County. Elnora graduated from Brocton High School in 1940.
She met the love of her life, Lewis Dale Felkner, in 1938, and they were married in St. Charles, Mo., in September 1940. Elnora and Dale were devoted partners for more than 60 years before Dale was called home to the Lord.
They worked side by side raising their three children - Judith Ann, Lewis Dale "Skip" Jr. and Richard Allen - as well as livestock and crops. Elnora worked tirelessly by Dale's side for more than 50 years farming in Douglas and Champaign counties. They purchased their last farm in 1972 near Newman, which they farmed until officially retiring in 1983 when they moved near St. Joseph.
Elnora traveled with Dale in their motor home throughout the country for several years, finally settling near Caulfield, Mo., where she resided until 2010 when she relocated back to Newman.
Elnora was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Allen and Ruth; her husband, Dale; two children, Judy and Skip; and a great-grandchild, Lynnae.
She is survived by her youngest son, Richard (Dick) Felkner of Green Valley, Ariz.; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Elnora will be interred alongside Dale at the Danville National Cemetery in Danville in a private family ceremony.
Memorials may be made to the Elnora Felkner family. All proceeds will be donated to a charity of the family's choice.
Joines-Appleby Funeral Home of Newman is in charge of arrangements.