Lena L. Sanders, 93, of Benton, passed away at 6:48 a.m., on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at SIH Memorial Hospital in Carbondale, IL, surrounded by her family.
She was born on May 24, 1932, to Elva and Sarah (Finney) Sanders in Logan, IL. She was a Thompsonville High School graduate, a member of the Class of 1949. Lena worked for the Illinois Department of Revenue and retired as a Weights & Measures Inspector for the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Lena made many friends throughout the state working as an Inspector, and always spoke fondly of her coworker, Martha McLaskey.
Lena was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was raised on a farm in Logan. Lena had several animals on her farm over the years but got the most enjoyment from her dogs. She enjoyed going to auctions, watching westerns, and loved reading books. Lena was also an avid Green Bay Packers fans unless her team was losing. Lena loved traveling and would frequently go on bus tours to the Kentucky Opry. She was “Grandma” to a lot of kids over the years. She loved to socialize while taking money at the door at BCHS sporting events. She enjoyed seeing and spending time with her great-grandchildren the last several years of her life.
Lena is survived by her children, Sarah Williams and LW (Michele) Biddle; six grandchildren, Mandi (Dale) Sanders, Jesse (Kelli) Williams, Sr., Renee (Frank) Clark, Michael (Regina) Sullivan, Heather (Ryan) Myers, Lindsay Thomas and Katie (Brady) Helmkamp; her granddaughter-in-law, Kerry Williams; 12 great-grandchildren, Jesse Williams, Jr., Maggie Williams, Lucy Williams, Brandon Williams, Abigail Williams, Gavin Williams, Fischer Williams, Laynee Thomas, Leona Helmkamp, Roper Sanders, Lucas Myers and Layla Myers and two great-great-grandsons due this fall.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elva and Sarah Sanders, her son, Kevin Biddle, her grandson, Benjamin “Ben” Williams and her siblings, Jesse Sanders, Noble Sanders, Weldon Sanders and Pearl Bertinette.
Services have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home and Crematory, 301 South Main Street, Benton, IL.
Visitation will be held Monday, April 20, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL.
Funeral services will be held directly after the visitation on Monday, April 20, 2026, at 12:00 p.m., at Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL, with the Reverend Jesse Hinds, officiating. Following the funeral service, burial will take place in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery, Benton, IL.
Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com.
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