Bernice Huls

OGDEN – Irene Bernice Huls, 89, of Ogden passed away at her home with her family at her side at 2:52 p.m. Tuesday (April 21, 2015). Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 25, 2015, at St. John Lutheran Church, Royal. Burial will be in St. John Cemetery Royal, with a dinner following at the Royal Community Building. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, with a 4:30 p.m. prayer service, at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph.

Bernice was born Aug. 22, 1925, in Ogden Township, the daughter of George and Katherine Behrens Frerichs. She married Elvin John Huls on June 29, 1947.

She is survived by her husband, Elvin. Her survivng family also includes her sons and their wives, Terry and Donna Huls of Champaign, Norbert and Maris Huls of Penfield and Tim and Susi Huls of St. Joseph; six grandchildren and their spouses, Kim Huls, Kerry Huls, Michelle and Shaughnessy Rice, Michael and Alyson Huls, Tracey and Jeff Mathis and Craig Huls; and eight great-grandchildren, Alexis Rosenberry, Lily, Roisin and Shaughnessy Michael Rice, Milo and Maisy Huls and Blair and Levi Mathis; sisters, Leona Saathoff of Urbana, Erma Christians of Champaign and Clarine Saathoff of Mahomet; a sister-in-law, Annetta Frerichs of Royal; and brothers-in-law, Arnold Hinrichs of Royal and Junior Duitsman of St. Joseph.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, John and Herman Frerichs; and sisters, Eleanor Lubben, Rosetta Richards and Carolyn Hinrichs.

Bernice was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Royal, where she was batized, confirmed and married.

Bernice graduated from Armstrong High School in 1944 and then from the Illinois Commercial College. She worked for a few years at the Air Force base in Rantoul, but most of her life she cleaned people's homes, and also helped Elvin on the farm, milking cows and preparing meals to take to the field.

She enjoyed time with her family and loved to play cards and go dancing with Elvin. Her strong faith and her quiet ways of always helping the people she knew will be greatly missed.

Memorials may be made to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America or to the family to go toward the Darrel Meuser Fund of the American Cancer Society.

Margaret "Louise" Denhart Stipp

SAVOY – Margaret "Louise" Stipp, 91, of Savoy entered heaven at 10:15 p.m. Sunday (April 19, 2015).

A celebration of her life will be held on Thursday, April 23, at Morgan Memorial Home, 1304 Regency Drive West, Savoy. Visitation will be from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. with the service following. Entombment will be in Mount Hope Mausoleum, Champaign.

Louise was born on Sept. 11, 1923, in St. Joseph, the daughter of Frank and Grace Denhart. She married Myron Stipp on Aug. 20, 1944. He preceded her in death on Oct. 30, 2013.

She is survived by a sister, Pat Dyer Paul (Stan) of Urbana; three daughters, Teresa Ackeberg (Kenyon) of Bossier City, La., Denise Blaze (Tom) of Oshkosh, Wis., and Renee Ballistrea (Mike) of Mayfield Heights, Ohio; nine grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her memory to First Christian Church, Champaign.

Norman J. Franzen

RANTOUL – Norman J. Franzen, 79, of Rantoul passed away on Saturday afternoon (April 18, 2015) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

He was born May 27, 1935, on the family farm in Compromise Township, Ill., a son of John H. and Grace (Hinrichs) Franzen. He married Lynda Clements on Nov. 1, 1969, in Flatville.

He is survived by four children, Brett Palmquist of Homer, Christy Laswell of Rantoul, Shannon (Johnna) Franzen of Ogden and John (Caroline) Franzen of Rantoul; five sisters, Annetta Frerichs of Royal, Erna Mennenga of Thomasboro, Bernice Loschen of Flatville, Evelyn Paul of Rantoul and Lucille Ryan of Savoy; and 11 grandchildren, Drake, Alicia, Briar, Kelsey, Jacob, Caleb, Harley, Denley, Davyn, Chesney and Sayge.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Norman graduated from Rantoul Township High School. He farmed the Flatville area all his life. He served in the U.S. Army. Norman was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Flatville.

He enjoyed playing euchre and going to auctions. He was an avid Cubs fan and his greatest joy was spending time with all his grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Flatville. The Rev. James Lehmann will officiate. Burial will follow in Huls Cemetery, Gifford.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Memorials may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Lux Memorial Chapel, Rantoul, is handling the arrangements.

Ronald Dale Ray

SIDNEY – Ronald Dale "Ron" Ray, 65, of Sidney passed away peacefully on Monday (April 13, 2015).

Ron was born in Cairo on July 16, 1949, to Lester and Rosalie (Lindsey) Ray.

He graduated from St. Joseph-Ogden High School in 1968 and went on to graduate from Eastern Illinois University in 1973.

He was married to Paula Karlau on Dec. 18, 1970. He was the owner of Ron Ray & Associates and was co-owner of Loman-Ray Insurance.

He was an active trustee of the C-U Elks Club No. 2497, Moose Lodge No. 1001 and American Legion No. 71. He enjoyed spending time camping and boating in Shelbyville and being around family and friends. He will be remembered forever in the hearts of many.

Survivors include his loving mother, Rosalie of Sidney; his three sons, Travis (Leah) Ray of Royal, Troy (Andrea) Ray of Royal and Tim Ray of St. Joseph; and five cherished grandchildren, Addison Rose, Korben Dale, Elcie Elizabeth, Graham Michael and Easton Charles Ray.

Services and interment will be privately held by the family.

Memorials in Ron's name may be made to C-U Illinois Elks Association Children's Care Corp., C/O C-U Elks Lodge No. 2497, 903 N. Dunlap Ave., Savoy, IL 61874-9611.

Please join Ron's family in sharing video, pictures and memories on his tribute wall atwww.sunsetfuneralhome.com.

Marguerite Fleming

ST. JOSEPH – Marguerite Fleming, 96, formerly of St. Joseph, passed away at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday (April 14, 2015) at Alden Estates in Barrington.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 21, at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph. Burial will be in Mount Olive Cemetery, Mayview. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Marguerite was born March 16, 1919, at Holland, Mich., the daughter of Avery and Leona Mapes Jarrett. She married Howard Fleming on Jan. 30, 1942. He preceded her in death on Oct. 27, 1989.

She is survived by one son, Wayne Fleming of New Castle, Colo.; three daughters, Barbara Ann Watkins of Los Lunas, N.M., Shirley Mae Bertagnoli of Round Lake Beach, Ill., and Diana Marie Fleming of Cary, Ill.; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband and one sister.

Marguerite was active in the American Legion Auxiliary.

James A. Bensyl

OGDEN – James A. Bensyl, 92, of Ogden passed away at 6 a.m. Friday (April 10, 2015) at the Champaign County Nursing Home, Urbana.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, April 13, at G.A.R. Cemetery, Homer. Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph, is in charge of arrangements.

James was born Aug. 12, 1922, in Ogden Township, the son of Ora and Bessie Bradley Bensyl. He married Wilma Ruth Jacobs on May 8, 1948. She survives.

Also surviving are his children, Sandra (Rusty) Sandberg of Neoga, Marilyn Sue Hasty of Urbana, Ann (Jerry) Schmidt of Champaign, Janet (Michael) Brown of St. Joseph and Gary (Kim) Bensyl of Ogden; 10 grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; and one brother, Pete (Connie) Bensyl of Ogden. He was loved by many nieces and nephews.

James was preceded in death by five brothers, Ora, Jack, Roy, Don and Laverne; and four sisters, Mary, Norma Jean, Pauline and Jane.

James was a veteran of the U.S. Army in World War II. He was one of six brothers who served in World War II, all coming home safely.

James was a plumber and co-owner of Bensyl Brothers Plumbing and Heating in Ogden. He also worked in the Champaign area and was a member of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 149.

James enjoyed working in his garden and growing tomatoes and working on garden tractors.

Betty Lou Webb

HOMER – Betty Lou (Ballou) Webb, 90, of Homer passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at her daughter's home in Homer at 4:42 p.m. Monday (April 6, 2015).

There will be a celebration of life service at noon Saturday, April 11, at Kirby Funeral Home, 708 S. Main St., Homer. Officiating will be Rev. John McIntosh. The burial will be at a later date in the Florida National Veterans Cemetery in Bushnell, Fla. There will be a visitation from 10 a.m. until service time Saturday at the funeral home.

Mrs. Webb was born on March 4, 1925, in Plano, a daughter of Herbert and Nancy Williams Ballou. She married William Webb on Sept. 4, 1943, in Yorkville. He passed away on Sept. 16, 2011.

Survivors include three children, Diane (Frank) Dutton of Mahomet, Donna (George) Heppe of Homer and David Webb of St. Joseph; and grandchildren, Doug (Shorouk) Dutton, Beth (Jared) Painter, Craig Wakefield, Keith (Tiffany) Wakefield, Ryan (Amy) Heppe, Luke Heppe, Leah (Terrance) Wynne and Michael (Anna) Webb. She was also survived by 13 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by one daughter (Barb Wakefield); one granddaughter (Katie Webb); two sisters; and one brother. Betty worked as a loan officer and assistant vice president at the First National Bank in Ogden for 27 years.

After retirement, she and Bill lived in Hawthorne at Leesburg, Fla., for 20 years where they were very active in the boating club and other activities. She loved to travel and they did travel the U.S. in their motorhome for 20 years.

She was a member of the Clermont Methodist Church in Clermont, Fla., where she and her husband did mission work in addition to their membership.

Upon returning to Illinois after Bill's death, she lived with her daughters in Mahomet and Homer.

Betty was an avid reader up until the time of her death. She also enjoyed crocheting and loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Mahomet Public Library, Homer Public Library or Carle Hospice.