Mary F. Beetler

Mary Frances Beetler, 89, of Altona, Illinois died peacefully February 4, 2017 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria after suffering a stroke. She was born October 16, 1927 in Galesburg, the first child of Clark C. Brown and Frances R. Peterson Brown. She married Donald E. Beetler, June 26, 1949 at Ontario Congregational Church, rural Oneida. He survives, as do their four children, Dianne Beetler, Altona; Linda (LaMar) Bell, Oneida; David (Deborah) Beetler, Oneida; and Kathleen (Henry) Gondeck, Chillicothe. 

Mary also is survived by six grandchildren, Bryan (Mallery) Bell, Medinah; Marla Bell, Oneida; Kyle (Carla) Bell, Aurora; Melinda (Kristian) Eriksen, Algonquin; Charleen Gondeck, Chillicothe; Corey Gondeck, Naperville; one great-grandson, Caiden Bell,Aurora.

She also is survived by one brother, Donald K. (Elaine) Brown, Abingdon; and three sisters, Dorothy (Bill) Murdock, Wataga; Carol (LeRoy) McGrew, Unionville, Missouri; and Catherine (Tom) Kimmell, Kendallville, Indiana.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Richard Brown and Robert Brown, one sister, JoAnn Coffey, and one great-granddaughter, Kayla Bell.

She grew up in rural Victoria and as a young woman planted trees at Little John strip mine, where her father had worked. She also provided childcare and worked in Galesburg. After her marriage, she lived near Elmwood and Yates City and then farmed with her husband for 45 years near Victoria, Oneida, and Altona.

Mary was very tenderhearted and a born caregiver who loved being a homemaker, farm wife, mother, and grandmother. She especially had a heart for young children, the sick, and the elderly. She will be remembered for the many thoughtful things she did for her loved ones.

Memorial services will be held at 11:30 A.M. on Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at Hurd-Hendricks Funeral Home, Oneida, Illinois.  Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. on Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at the funeral home.  Inurnment will be at a later date at the Oneida Cemetery.   Memorials may be made to the Greig Memorial Library, Oneida, Illinois and to the Little John Conservation Club, Victoria, Illinois.  Hurd-Hendricks Funeral Home & Crematory, Oneida, Illinois is assisting the family. Online condolences may be left at www.hurd-hendricksfuneralhome.com.