Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently released results of its 2017 census of every farm in the country. That includes the 72,651 farms in Illinois, which generated $17 billion in revenue that year, a $3 billion increase from 2012, the last time the once-every-five-years census was conducted.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
Janelle Rogers, 87, of Benton, IL passed away Friday evening May 10, 2019 at St. Louis University Hospital.
She was born in Jonesboro, IL on April 6, 1932, the daughter of Benjamin & Anna (Crowell) McRaven.
She married Robert E. Rogers on November 28, 1998 and he preceded her in death on November 12, 2016.
Mrs. Rogers finished her career as an office assistant for Roger Clark DVM. She liked to work in her flower garden andshe enjoyed crossword puzzles. She enjoyed spending time with her children & grandchildren. She enjoyed listening to Elvis Presley & Alan Jackson.
Mrs. Rogers is survived by her children, Deanna Marvel, and husband Mike, of Thompsonville, IL, Glenn Hiller, of Benton, IL and Greg Hunter, of West Frankfort, IL; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; as sister, Lora Williams, of Murphysboro, IL; several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
Mrs. Rogers was preceded in death by her parents, husband, by a son-David Hiller, a great-granddaughter, by three sisters and three brothers.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, May 14th at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton. Burial will be in the Pleasant Grove Memorial Park in Murphysboro. Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Monday at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com
James “Jim” R. Norman, 79, of Benton, passed away at 10:30 p.m., on Thursday, May 9, 2019, at SSM Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon, IL.
He was born on February 17, 1940, to Vernie and Jewel (Caraker) Norman in Vandalia, IL.
Mr. Norman was a United States Army Veteran serving in the Vietnam War.
On April 3, 1982, he married Cheryl Loy Puckett in Benton, IL., and she proceeded him in death on August 5, 2011.
Jim enjoyed reading, history, watching movies, traveling and spending time with his loving grandchildren.
He is survived by his loving daughter, Jennifer Lawler and husband Scott; one grandson, Jesse Norman; two granddaughters, Ava Lawler and Emma Lawler; three brothers, Michael Norman, Tim Norman and Steve Norman; two sisters, Patty Cunningham and Susan Haithcoat; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Vernie and Jewel Norman; his loving wife, Cheryl Loy Norman.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL.
Jims wishes were to be cremated. A memorial service will be held privately at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to Benton Ministerial Alliance and will be accepted at the funeral home.
Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com.
Alan Wyant, age 74, of Benton, passed away at 6:28 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at the Kishwaukee Hospital of Dekalb, Illinois.
Graveside Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, May 13, 2019 at the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton, in Block CC, with Rev. Dale Burzynski officiating. Friends are asked to meet at the cemetery on Monday. Arrangements are through the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.
Gail Alan Wyant was born on October 21, 1944 in Benton, Illinois, the son of Uel “Punch” Wyant and Edna Mae (Callahan) Wyant.
He enjoyed gardening, walking, and visiting with friends and family.
Alan is survived by three brothers: Don Wyant of Benton, Gary Wyant and wife Billie of Benton, Lyn Woods and wife Sammi of Orlando, FL; two sisters: Janet Border and companion Joe Boldrey of Benton, Debbie Pinkston and husband Roy of Benton; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers: David Bruce Wyant and Randy Wyant; and a sister Elsie Spain.
To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Alan, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com
Tyler Dewayne Shelton, 22, of Coello, passed away on May 7, 2019.
He was born on June 10, 1996 in Madisonville, KY.
He is survived by his fiancé Kortnie Bailey, daughter Macii Shelton, mother and step-father Amy and Josh Hiller, father Bruce Shelton, three brothers Taylor Shelton, Colton Shelton and Clay Shelton, grandparents Chester and Rita Brown and Patty and Kevin Hiller.
A Memorial Visitation will be on Monday May 13, 2019 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher. The family request that everyone attending to please dress casual.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Mental Health America, checks can be made payable to Kortnie Bailey and will be accepted at the funeral home.
For more information go to our website www.gilbertfunralhomes.com
Raymond Lipe, 94, of Darien, IL, passed away on May 7, 2019.
Mr. Lipe was born on March 3, 1925 to George and Nolia Lipe.
He was preceded in death by his wife and the the love of his life, Vanetta; two sisters, Beulah (John) and Berniece (Tommy); his mother, Nolia and father, George. He is survived by three sons, Kenneth (Dorothy), Gary (Linda) and Gordon (Johanna), seven grandchildren, Sandra, Kenny, Kelly, Lisa, Angelique, Gordon and Sherry, 16 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren.
He served in the United States Army during World War II. He retired from Electro-motive, a division of General Motors. He will be greatly missed by all of his family.
Burial will be at Shiloh Cemetery in Whittington, Illinois on Saturday, May 11 at 1:00 pm with Rev. Mark Minor officiating. Military Rites will be conducted by the Benton American Legion & VFW Posts and the National Guard Honor Squad.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.johnstonfuneralhome.com
A Prayer to Escape Doubt – Your Daily Prayer – May 7
A Prayer to Escape Doubt
By Meg Bucher
“For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love.” Ephesians 1:4 (NET)
“Are you ready?” I asked my daughter excitedly as we drove away from the school day and onto a new adventure.“Mommy …” she trailed off in amazement as the ballet company practice came into our line of sight. Nervous, but sure of her dream, she stretched and gazed upon the very thing she had envisioned herself doing so many times.
Our dreams are road maps to God’s growing process for our individual purpose. He chose us so specifically and specially to walk out into the world equipped with the ability He put in us, to spread His love in the way that only we can.
The word chose in the above verse is the Greek word, eklegomai, a verb that means “to choose, set apart, elect.” “It sometimes refers to decisions made by people …but can also signify the electing activity of God according to his divine purpose and grace.” -Mounce’s Complete Expository DirectoryDo we realize, when we walk out into a day filled with clouds of doubt, that the God of the universe is concerned about what we’re up to?
New beginnings, impossible dreams, and lists of un-qualifications can derail our walk towards the freedom and peace that He promises us. “Holy and unblemished.” He forgets our sin, gave us His son, and resides within us through His Holy Spirit. Yet we still have days strangled with doubt. Well aware of the inevitable imperfections that come along with being human, we let our struggles take the lead. But shortcomings were never meant to make us shortsighted in our view of who we are.
“It is not our own awareness that we are sinful people that first turns us toward God; rather, God in his mercy awakens that awareness within us.” NIV Quest Study Bible Notes
We are called to face our fears and risk the unknown to follow the dream that God has laid upon our hearts. Giving Him the lead enables us to discover how ready we are to walk into the next lesson of growth. Bravery and determination in the face of fear and doubt come not from the depths of our own hearts, but His within us. When we put our lives in His capable hands, we are able to view it from His perspective.
“God chose us to be in a relationship with Him even before He laid out plans for this world; He wanted us to live holy lives characterized by love, free from sin, and blameless before Him.” Ephesians 1:4 (VOICE)
When doubtful agendas cause us to forget who God has already said that we are, let’s pray for Peace to sweep in and take over.
Father,
Praise You for peace and purpose. You know every strain, thread and thought of our lives. The care and love that You put into the people we are is part of Your great and compassionate character. Let us remember that when our days threaten to fill up with doubt, You rain down hope and assurance that we are worthy, chosen, and free.
Thank You for the journey each life inevitably unfolds. There’s not enough time to witness all of the marvelous stories of courage and triumph that You have worked out in the lives that surround us and fill this world. Let stories of inspiration flood our hearts with assurance and love, sweeping doubt away. Let our hearts flow with the current of Your truth and the promises that You have laid throughout Scripture for us to see.
When we look out at the sunrise, may we welcome another day full of life and purpose. And as the sun sets, we pray to finish each day well, unassured of how many more will follow.
Thank you for setting us free from sin. Forgive us for allowing ourselves to be enslaved by lies and imperfections that Christ has already conquered on the cross.
Bless the dreams that You lay on our hearts. Help us to stay in tune with Your will. Align the ambitions of our hearts to Your plan. We know that Your plans for our lives are more than we can imagine or ask for. Praise You, Lord Jesus!
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
ST. LOUIS — Pat Maroon scored 5:50 into the second overtime, Jordan Binnington made 29 saves and the St. Louis Blues outlasted the Dallas Stars 2-1 in Game 7 of their Western Conference semifinal playoff series Tuesday night.
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
If you didn’t think Democrats in Springfield were serious before about adopting a progressive tax system, they proved this week they’ll do almost anything to help Gov. J.B. Pritzker pass his signature campaign promise.
Here’s a link to the editorial at Illinois News Network.
LAKE FOREST — The Chicago Bears have acquired Eddy Pineiro from Oakland, adding another kicker to the mix to replace Cody Parkey.
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
