Betty N. Payne, 100, passed away on Friday, February 14th, 2020 at Helia Healthcare in Benton, Illinois.

Born February 3rd, 1920, Betty was the only child of Verble and Evan Neal. She married the late Roy Faughn Payne on April 27, 1941 in Cape Girardeau and celebrated 71 years of marriage before his passing in 2012. She is survived by her only child, Evelyn Browning and husband Joe of Mesa, Arizona. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Kelly Robertson and wife, Lori of Benton; Chelsea Bailey and husband, Randy of Mt. Vernon and Samantha Glascock and husband, Joe of Mesa, Az., and three step-grandchildren: Steven Joe Browning of Benton, Kimberly Browning of Mesa, AZ and Jonathan Browning of Pacific Grove, Ca. She has eight surviving great-grandchildren and six step great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Betty dedicated her whole life to the family farm where five generations have lived and worked. She also found time to work in the community of Benton at the Franklin Hospital, Taylor Motor Company and Tyler’s Auto Agency. Betty and Roy spent many happy years showing quarter horses and camping with their fellow members of the Shawnee Sams Camping Club. She was an active member of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Benton and will always be remembered as a loving Sunday school teacher of young ladies, who paid a great tribute to her recently on her 100th birthday.

Her family is at peace knowing she lived a very long, full and meaningful life.

No formal services are planned at this time.

The Leffler Funeral Home of Benton, is in charge of the arrangements.

Memorial contributions in memory of Betty, may be made to the Immanuel Baptist Church Building Fund.

To leave online condolences to the family or to share memories of Betty, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com

Gina Marie Foulk, age 55, of McLeansboro, Illinois, passed away from her life on earth, to her new life in heaven, at 8:32 a.m. Saturday, February 15, 2020 at the Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton with Rev. Greg Shelton officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton. Visitation will be from 12 noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Gina was born on April 28, 1964 in Benton, the daughter of Richard Foulk and Virginia (Knight) Foulk.

She enjoyed music, loved to dance, color, swing, and play basketball.

Surviving are her parents Richard and Virginia Foulk of Alabama; three sisters: Lisa Edwards and husband Jaime of Palm Coast, FL, Paula Foulk of Trinity, TX, Sara Dailey and husband Greg of Makanda, IL; a brother Garry Foulk and companion Jackie Higgerson of Benton; several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her maternal and paternal grandparents.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Southern Illinois Special Olympics and will be accepted at the funeral home.

To leave online condolences to the family, or share memories of Gina, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com

Donald R. Bennett, 82, of Benton, IL passed away Saturday morning, February 15, 2020 at his home.

He was born in Whittington, IL on September 12, 1937, the son of Raymond & Ruth (Veach) Bennett.

He married Elda (Casagrande) in 1955, and she passed away in 1975.

Mr. Bennett married Sarah (Wagoner) on September 12, 1994, and she survives.
Mr. Bennett enjoyed camping and horseback riding. He worked for the Illinois Central Railroad for several years, while also farming. He and his wife Sarah owned & Operated Bennett’s Cafe in Thompsonville & Benton for several years.

Mr. Bennett is survived by his wife, Sarah Bennett, of Benton; son Gene Bennett, and wife Karen, of Benton, daughter Trish Bennett-Minor, of Mt. Vernon and Charlie Followell, of Mulkeytown, IL; stepson John Smith, of Centralia, IL; grandchildren Justin Bennett, Cristy Shultz, Shane Bennett, and wife Leanna, Nick Minor, and wife Ciara, Leah Deaton, and husband Scott; great-grandchildren Anthony, Lucas, Ethan and Lawson; sister Wanda Storey, of Benton.

Mr. Bennett was preceded in death by his parents, by his first wife, Elda Bennett, by a son, Dale Bennett and a brother, Ferrel.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, February 19t, 2020 at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton. Burial will be in the Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser. Visitation will be after 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois, Inc., and will be accepted at the funeral home at any time.

For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Susan Renee Phillips-Rizor, 47, of Santa Fe, NM, passed away on Saturday, February 8, 2020, in Tulsa, OK, from injuries sustained due to an automobile accident.

She was born on January 29, 1973, to Maurice and Carol (Runnels) Phillips in Benton, IL. Susan married J Scott Rizor and he survives.

Susan was a loving daughter, sister, mother and wife. She was an amazing Artist specializing in abstract paintings. Susan loved interior design, world travel and fine dining. She enjoyed being in the company of family and good friends.

She is survived by her loving spouse, J Scott Rizor, two sons, Reagan Hall and Jackson Hall; two daughters, Kenzie Rizor and Kassidy Rizor; two brothers, Tom (Leo Leonardo) Phillips and Jerry (Mendi) Phillips; one sister, Elizabeth (Todd) Grounds; one brother-in-law, Robb (Jamiey) Rizor; father and mother-in-law, Joe and Claudia Rizor; special friends, Terri McCarty, Sharmin Cawood, and Susan Budlong; and her beloved companion, Buddy.

Services have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL.

Visitation will be held Saturday, February 15, 2020, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2020, at 12:00 p.m., at the Pate Funeral Home, Benton IL with Pastor Kurt Sanders, officiating.

Memorials may be made to the Second Chance Rescue of Franklin County, 602 Joplin Street, Benton, IL. 62812 or Shriners Hospital at www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org and will also be accepted at the funeral home.

Susan’s family would like to express their appreciation for all the support and prayers they have received from family and friends during this difficult time.

Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com.

On the morning of Monday, February 3, 2020, William “Bill” Todd, loving partner and father of one, passed away peacefully in his bed at the age of 61. Bill was born on June 11, 1958 in Benton, Illinois to Charles Kenneth Todd and Laura Joyce (Filkins) Todd.

Bill had worked at Continental Tire in Mt. Vernon, Illinois for the past fourteen years and was formerly employed with Maytag in Herrin, Illinois. He was an avid sports fan and loved golf, basketball, and spending time with the special people in his life. If you couldn’t find Bill, you could count on him being at the golf course getting a round in whenever he could. He will be deeply missed by his son, who accompanied him on many of those rounds.

“While I write this I am reminded of the love my Dad gave to me my entire life. As with everyone, there were times of strain between the two of us, but through everything I knew how much he loved me. Over the last fifteen years our relationship grew more than I could have ever imagined. I will miss him so much for the rest of my life and I hope he really knows how special he was to me.”

Bill was preceded in death by his father, mother, and sister, Mary Ellen Williams. He is survived by his long-time partner Therese Cline (and her children Bryan Cline and Kaylee Cox) who will always remember Bill as “my best friend and a wonderful father figure to my children.”, his son Jeremy (Kelly) Todd, and his brother Les (Lisa) Todd along with several loved aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2020 at 10:30 A.M. at Hughey Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, Illinois. Memorials may be made to the Todd Family in care of Jeremy Todd.

Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.

Richard “Rick” James Tygett, 75, of Sesser, passed away on February 7, 2020 at the Franklin Hospital.

He was born on March 3, 1944 in West Frankfort, IL to James and Viva (Mabry) Tygett. He married Mary (Eurgil) Tygett on December 22, 1967 and she survives of Sesser.

He is also survived by his children Michele (Ed) Epplin of Troy, IL, Jennifer (Craig) Zinzilieta of Benton, Tim (Allison) Tygett of Palos Hills, IL, and Michael Tygett of Sesser; grandchildren Luke Epplin, Alexis Epplin, Lauren Zinzilieta, Jake Zinzilieta, Emma Zinzilieta, Timothy Tygett and Zachary Tygett.
He was an avid car guy and loved his family. He was an Army Veteran and was a Federal Mediator.

Funeral services will be on Thursday February 13, 2020 at 11:00 AM at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser with Rev. Monsignor Daniel Jurek officiating.

Visitation will be on Wednesday February 12, 2020 from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM and on Thursday from 9:00 AM until the time of the service at 11:00 AM. Burial will be at Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser.

For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com