Nola Vivian Barham, 98, of Benton, passed away at 1:06 a.m., on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at Stonebridge Nursing Home and Rehab in Benton, IL, surrounded by her family,

She was born on December 19, 1927, to Charles and Bertha (Smith) Kinkade in Roland, IL. Nola was one of 12 siblings, and was the last sibling of all of her 11 brothers and sisters to pass away. For years, Nola worked as a Sales Clerk for Walmart. On June 14, 1947, she married Joe Barham at East Benton Baptist Church, and her preceded her in death on July 7, 1996.

She was a devoted Southern Baptist and was a charter member of Immanuel Baptist Church. Nola was instrumental in launching the Sunday School program at IBC, which is still thriving strong even today and she also enjoyed being a Children’s Sunday School teacher at the church.

Nola was a loving mother and grandmother. Volunteering was important to Nola, from tutoring students at Benton Middle School to helping make lunches for the Summer Lunch Program at the Benton West City Ministerial Alliance. She enjoyed traveling, especially her trips to Hawaii, Paris, Germany and Rome. She also loved baking her delicious banana bread and tending to her flower gardens.

She is survived by her loving children, Susan J. Barham and Brad Barham and her grandchildren, Jason and Michelle Sears and their children, Zachary (Samatha), Austin and Haley and Kimberly Walters and her children, Canaan, Ashlynn and Benjamin and a great-great grandchild, Jaeger Thomas, cousin, Elizabeth Gulley, sister-in-law, Jane Kinkade, and several nieces and nephews.

She is preceded by her parents, Charles Leland and Bertha Mae Kinkade, her husband, Joe Barham and her brothers and sisters, Dorothy Kinkade-Sertl, Charles L. (Juanita) Kinkade, Sylvia Kinkade, Daisy (Howard) Kinkade-Simpson, Virginia (Joseph) Kinkade-Muscat, Eloise (Henry) Kinkade-Stob, Benjamin (Dorothy) Kinkade, Gilbert (Ann Mae) Kinkade, Noble (Jane) Kinkade, Nolan Kinkade and Jerry (Sharon) Kinkade.

Services have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home and Crematory, 301 South Main Street, Benton, IL.

Visitation will be held Monday, March 23, 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, March 23, 2026, at 12:00 p.m., at Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL, with Pastor Ryan Mulvaney, officiating.

Following the funeral service, burial will take place in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton, IL.

Memorials may be made to Tunnel to Towers-T2T or to Samaritan’s Purse and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Kevin Jay Bonsack, age 55, of Ewing, passed away Saturday, February 15, 2025.

Kevin was born on January 21, 1970, in Brookfield, Wisconsin, the son of David Bonsack and June (Dahms) Bonsack.

He worked as a CNC Operator with Custom Stainless of Benton.

Kevin enjoyed hunting, fishing, riding motorcycles, racing go-carts, dirt track racing, rides at the lake on the pontoon boat, camping, and shooting pool. Most of all he enjoyed his time spent with his kids and grandkids.

Surviving are his children: Katie Bonsack of Benton, IL, Jarrett Bonsack of Macedonia, IL, Kyle Bonsack of Nashville, TN, a step-daughter Ashley Sluder of Mt. Vernon, IL, four grandchildren: Liliana Akin, Alexandria Akin, Harper Sluder, Payton Sluder; three siblings: Christel Glodowski and husband Cory of Plover, WI, Robin Parlow of Holmen, WI, David Bonsack and wife Cheryl of Stevens Point, WI; his companion Tonya Wall; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a stepson Allen Piercy, and three siblings: Sheila Konkel, Keith Bonsack, and Danny Bonsack.

His wishes were to be cremated.

Celebration of Life Services will be held at a future date.

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

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

Raymond Luther Allen age 72 of Chicago, went to his heavenly home on February 13, 2025.

Raymond was born December 27,1952 at Miners Union hospital in West Frankfort, il. The son of Raymond Luther Allen Sr. and Lorene (Summers) Vaughn.

Raymond went blind at age 5 but he never let his disability stop him. He attended Illinois School for the Visually Impaired in Jacksonville, IL, and there he learned braille and how to do basic life skills. He loved to listen to ball games on the radio. He also liked to take radios apart. He was a fun-loving person who never met a stranger. He lived at Clark Manor Nursing Home for over 40 years. He met his wife Gertrude at Clark Manor, and they were united in marriage. He loved the staff at Clark Manor, and they loved him.

Raymond is survived by his sisters Patricia (Allen) Mielke of Sesser IL, Viola (Holland) Reed and husband Charles, of West Frankfort IL and Bambie (Vaughn) Eader and husband Greg of Benton IL. He is also survived by Tom Scully of Chicago, and several nieces and nephews.

He was proceeded in death by his parents and wife.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Clark Manor of Chicago for the love and care they have given our brother. He considered the staff his family. His Doctor and Unity Hospice provided excellent care with compassion and kept us informed of any changes.

Thank you also to Tom Scully for being a great friend to Raymond for many years. We are so grateful to everyone for their love and support.
Raymond was cremated and will be laid to rest at Masonic & Odds Fellow Cemetery, in Benton.

Phillip Ray Gower, 43, of Benton, IL, passed away at 5:30 p.m., on Sunday, September 3, 2023, at Deaconess Gateway Hospital in Newburg, Indiana.

He was born on May 23, 1980, to William and Kathleen (Meehan) Gower in Benton, IL.

He enjoyed playing guitar, singing, songwriting, drawing, cooking, listening to music and spending time with his many friends, supporting the Chicago Bears.

Phillip made friends wherever he went and had many lifelong friends as well as new friends that he has grown close to in more recent years. He was a jokester and was known for always making people laugh. He was very passionate about music.

Phillip is survived by his mother, Kathleen Gower of Mt. Vernon, IL; son, Jaxon Gower of Benton, IL; daughter, Jaida Gower of Benton, IL; sister, Christine (Rick Hoxworth) Gower-Leathers of Mt Vernon, IL; brother-in-law, Brian Thomason of Washington, IL; three nieces, Sarah (Nelson) Tipsword of Sullivan, IL, Krysta Thomason of Chiang Mai, Thailand and McKenna Leathers of Mt Vernon, IL; nephew, Evan Leathers of Mt Vernon, IL; great-niece, Dahlia Tipsword of Sullivan, IL and five special friends, Jarrett Pruitt, Jared Allison, Nathan Reed, Ryan Schram and Robert Davis; .

He was preceded in death by his father, William Gower, sister, Michelle Rene Thomason, paternal grandparents, Earnest E. and Mary Lou Gower, maternal grandparents, Wallace and Harriet Meehan, great aunt, Doris Bean, uncle, John Meehan, aunt, Flo Meehan, best friends, Travis West and Dusty Duncan.

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

Per Phillips wishes, cremation will take place.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at 1:00 p.m., at the VFW/American Legion in Benton, IL.

Memorials may be made in Phillip’s honor to the family in care of Christine Leathers, and will be accepted at the funeral home or mailed to Lighthouse Recovery Center, 1276 E. 250 N, Washington, IN 47501 in care of Ryan Parsons.

A Go Fund Me account has also been set up in Phillip’s honor, named Phillip Gower’s Legacy: A Family’s Urgent Need.

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