Norma Jane Page, of Ewing, Illinois, passed this life and entered her eternal home on March 26, 2022, at 2:00 a.m. at Franklin Hospital with her family by her side.

Norma was born December 21, 1930, to Ralph Marcus Smith and Serena “Pearl” Carlton Smith in Gary, Indiana. She married William “Thurmond” Page on June 29, 1951.

Together Thurmond and Norma enjoyed 57 years together building their family farm until he died in 2009. She was owner/manager of the H & R Block franchise in Benton for 42 years. Norma was named Franklin County Farmwife of the Year in 1978. Norma was active in the 4-H as a member and a 4-H Club Leader. She was a member of Benton First Free Will Baptist Church, charter member of the Macedonia Order of the Eastern Star Chapter #1028; and assisted with the summer lunch program at the Benton Ministerial Alliance.

Norma was the third oldest of nine children. Those surviving include Robert C. Smith (Lorene) of Royalton, Joyce Thomas (Bob) Thomas of West Frankfort, Linda Akerman (Dr. Lou) of Silverdale, WA, Jack Smith (Frances) of Benton, and sister-in-law Virginia Smith.

Norma is survived by her five children: Robert Ray Page (Janice) of Benton, Jean Ann Chamness of West Frankfort, Jane Ellen Page of Mt. Vernon, Patricia Lynn Wilson (David) of Benton, and John Kendall Page (Tanya) of Benton.

Sixteen grandchildren survive: Robert “Brandon” Page of Chesterfield, MO, Bradley Thomas (Monica) of Benton, Ashley Kern (Travis) of Thompsonville, Dr. Allison Schumacher (Dr. Charles) of Effingham, Garrett Thomas (Meghan) of Highland, Curtis Wilson (Kristen) of DuQuoin, Sarah Hutchcraft (Gideon) of Pinckneyville, Brice Wilson of Benton, Jacob Page (Stephanie) of Benton, Quinton Wilson of Benton, Austin Thomas (Michelle) of Carbondale, Emalee Watkins (Jeremy) of Benton, Emily McKinney of Christopher, Erin Page of Bluford, Kelsey Page of Benton, Logan Page of Benton.
Twenty-four great grandchildren: Holden Hutchcraft, Isaiah Sphere, Makaya Thomas, Madelynn Hutchcraft, Nathaniel Kern, Aaron Thomas, Liberty Thomas, Dayton Wilson, Sylvie Schumacher, Addi Sphere, Jakson Page, Brody Thomas, Jace Thomas, Reed Schumacher, Gentry Wilson, Phoebe Page, Katherine Kern, Enslee Watkins, Vivian Page, Elise McKinney, Brayliee Thomas, Jeremiah Watkins, Grady Thomas, and Eliana McKinney.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents, husband, William Keith Page (infant son), Timothy Chamness (grandson), Ronnie Thomas (great grandson), Mary Schwind, Fay Krapf, and Martha VanDyke (sisters), and Ralph E. Smith (brother).

Visitation will be Tuesday, March 29, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the First Free Will Baptist Church, 1208 E. Bond St., Benton, IL. OES rites will begin at 1:45. Funeral services begin at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Harlen Johnson and Rev. Phillip Kennedy officiating. Interment will follow at Liberty-Ridlin Cemetery, Macedonia, IL.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Benton/West City Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry, 302 S. Main St., Benton, IL 62812 or First Free Will Baptist Church, 1208 E. Bond St., Benton, IL 62812.
A special thank you goes out to Jane for her dedicated care given to Norma over the past year and a half.
Online condolences can be made to the family, or to share memories of Norma; visit www.lpfuneralhome.com

Linda Lou Girtman “Toms”, 61, of Sesser Illinois, formerly a lifelong resident of Benton Illinois, passed away peacefully at her home on Monday March 21, 2022 after a courageous two year battle of breast cancer in the presence of love surrounded by her family.

She was born January 7, 1961 to James and Lula Toms in Benton Illinois. She married the love of her life and best friend, Marshall Girtman on August 20, 1983.

Linda was a devoted and loving wife, Mother and Mema. She was happiest when she was surrounded by her family. In her free time, she enjoyed Harley rides and spending time with her friends. She was so easy to love and be loved by.

She is survived by her loving husband of 38 years, Marshall Girtman, her daughter Melinda (Derek) Flatt, her son Steven (Katlyn) Girtman, her son Marshall Girtman Jr., her mother Lula Toms, her seven grandchildren Emily Cardwell, Hannah Cardwell, Kaisley Girtman, Mia Girtman, Kristen Girtman, Sarah Girtman, and Ben Girtman; her three brothers John (Brenda) Toms, Jim (Jane) Toms, Larry (Terry) Toms and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her father James Toms Sr., her sister Terry Schultz, her nephew Loren Toms, and her granddaughter Gretchen Cardwell.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton. Burial will be in the Logan Cemetery in Logan, Illinois. Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on Thursday at the funeral home.

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

Gordon Lee Carpenter, Jr., 80, of Ewing passed away Friday Evening, March 18, 2022 at his home in Ewing.

Gordon was born in Maysville, Kentucky in October 1941. He grew up on a family farm where he found his passion for rocks and geology. He was in band, 4H, loved shooting marbles and found a love for reading that continued his entire life. He was given the nickname “Jeep” as he would walk, crawl and climb over everything on that farm; similarly to how the Willis Jeep performed in WWII.

He attended University of Kentucky “Wildcats” for geology and later finished at Western Kentucky University. He has had a lifelong love of watching UK basketball. He loved telling the story of when he marched in JFK’s inauguration parade for UK playing the tuba.
He met and married Carolyn Hall at UK and had a son; Gordon L. Carpenter III “Lee”

Gordon came to southern Illinois in the late 1960’s following his passion of working as a Petroluem Geologist in the oil patch. He had two kids with Derry Burns Carpenter; William “Bill” Carpenter and Elizabeth Carpenter.

Later in life Gordon met Sherry Hill and had one son; Christopher Carpenter; where he later moved to Ewing in the late 1980’s.
He has lead generations of kids in this world with his involvement in various roles at Ewing Grade School over the last 30 years. First as a maintenance man / janitor. Later as a bus driver; this was his true passion later in life and loved taking kids on the Springfield trip every year. More recently he has enjoyed being the crossing guard and greeting everyone with a smile and twinkle in his eye.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Marietta Rosser Carpenter and Gordon Lee Carpenter Sr both of Maysville, Kentucky.

He is survived by his significant other Sherry Webb of Ewing. Four children: “Lee” Carpenter (Alice) of Lexington, KY; William “Bill” Carpenter (Jennifer) of St Louis, Missouri; Elizabeth Carpenter (Dan Feigert) of Charlottesville, Virginia; and Chris Carpenter of Ewing, Illinois. Five grandchildren: Stephanie, Marietta, Posey, Victoria and Scout.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, March 26th at the Whittington Church. Graveside services will follow at Thurmond

Cemetery North East of Ewing. Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00P.M. on Saturday at the church. There will be a Celebration of Life Potluck immediately following the conclusion of graveside services at Ewing First Baptist Church.

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

James Earl “Crow” Odle, age 83, of Benton, passed away at 3:50 p.m., Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at his home.
His wishes are to be cremated.

A Memorial Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 26, 2022, at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton, with Pastor Ronny Shelton officiating. Burial will follow in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday at the Leffler Funeral Home.

James was born on September 9, 1938 in Benton, IL; the son of Charles Odle and Mary (Vandom) Odle.
He was a retired over the road sales and delivery driver, and he was a tomato farmer.
James enjoyed fishing, gardening, dancing, listening to music, playing cards, and working on cars. He was known throughout Benton for his tomatoes, and his tomato stand at his home.

Jim wanted it to be known that he loved his family more than anything.

Surviving is his loving daughter Penny Conner of Sesser, IL; two grandchildren: Amber Odle and Cheyenne Conner; five great-grandchildren: Aleigha Bunnell, Zander Bunnell, Shelby Bunnell, Alyssa Bunell, Levi Isaacs; two step-children: Curtis Aldridge of Dayton, Ohio, Patty Seibert of Sesser, IL; special niece: Crystal Odle; several other nieces and nephews; and special friends Bob Brown and Fred West.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Ed and a sister Louise.

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

Bennie Kasky, 100, of Benton, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at the Illinois Veterans Home in Anna, IL.

He was born on October 15, 1921, to Charley and Anna (Jeromin) Kasky in Bone Yard woods in Benton, IL. He was of the Catholic faith.

Bennie started off at an early age at Jefferson Barracks at the Citizens Military Training Camp and later in the CCC’s. He was a fireman on his first ship and later worked as an engineer on board on various ships carrying supplies all the way through and after World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He was a world traveler in the Merchant Marines via the Seafarers International Union and received an honorable military discharge from the United States Coast Guard on 20 January, 1943.His interests included walking, fishing, bingo and visiting The Benton Fraternal Order of Eagles, as a Golden Age Eagle member and a member of the Benton American Legion. He was very independent, enjoyed a good time and was a pretty good fighter to boot.

Bennie is survived by his nephew and niece, John F. and wife, Pam F. Kasky of Murphysboro, IL; great-nephews, Michael Kasky and Major David Kasky, USAF; nieces, Phyllis Kirt and Lillian (Kirt) Gorgan; great-nieces, Deborah (Gorgan) Bernardi, Maureen (Gorgan) Scariot and Kathy Gorgan and great-nephews, Joseph Gorgan and Robert Gorgan.
He was preceded in death his parents, Charley and Anna Kasky and his siblings, John, Katherine, Marie, Carl, Stanley, Mike, Louie and Andy.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 South Main Street, Benton, IL.

Graveside services will be held on Monday, March 21, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery, in Benton, IL, with Father Urban Osuji, officiating. Military rites will be performed by the Benton American Legion Post 280, VFW Post 2671 and the United States Navy Honors Team.

Above all, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the doctors, nurses and staff for their incredible care of Uncle Bennie at the Illinois Veterans Home in Anna. God bless all of you. — John Kasky

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

Jerry Fraulini, 85, of Benton passed away Tuesday evening, March 15, 2022 at his home.

He was born in Benton, IL on March 24, 1936, the son of Joe & Mary (Cleveland) Fraulini.

He married Gloria (Coolock) on July 8, 1961.

Mr. Fraulini served in the U.S. Navy. He worked Mine construction, then was Maintenance Engineer at Inland Steel and then for Consol. He loved to hunt and fish and go to the Plaza restaurant. He enjoyed his family, his cows, and working on his family farm.

Mr. Fraulini is survived by his:
Wife: Gloria Fraulini of Benton
3 Children:
Lisa Sauerhage & husband Harry of Benton
Jerri Hethmon of Benton
Mike Fraulini & wife Shelly of Iowa
5 Grandchildren:
James Hethmon & wife Sarah
Michael Fraulini
Ryan Fraulini & wife Rachel
Ryan Sauerhage & wife Brandi
Whitney Sauerhage & Mark Kovach
Jessica McConnell
GreatGrandchildren:
Easton & Paisley Fraulini
Brantlee & Hadley Sauerhage
Carter Williams
Brother: Gene Fraulini of Massachusetts
Nephews:
Gene Fraulini & wife Tia & family
Wayne Fraulini & wife Rose & family
Cheryl Fraulini-Bellante & husband Joe & family

Mr. Fraulini was preceded in death by his Parents & by his sister-in-law: Marilyn Fraulini.
Graveside services for family and friends will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton. (Block P, the southeast corner of the cemetery.)

Military Rites will be conducted by the Benton American Legion & VFW Posts. A celebration of life dinner will be held immediately following the service at the Gwen Wynn Senior Center at 104 North 10th St. in Benton for family and friends.

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