Prairie Advocate News

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Please Don't Quote Me HIstory of Lanark, Shannon, Milledgeville, Mount Carroll, Chadwick, Milledgeville, Savanna, Thomson, Fulton, Pearl City, Morrison, Freeport, Sterling, Illinois

There was no easy communication Back When, perhaps only a spavined horse without a saddle and whose backbone struck an additional hard chord as one made their way to the "quilting bee." Women didn't travel far or often. A quilt was a magic carpet and in it, if it could talk, would tell tales stitched in it, needle up, needle down, as a record of Days Gone By.

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Bette Jane Meakins

Bette Jane Meakins, age 89, of Thomson, Illinois, passed away Saturday, December 6, 2008, at Mercy Medical Center, Clinton, Iowa surrounded by her loving family. A Memorial Service will be held 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Thomson, with Dr. Arthur Donart officiating. Inurnment will be in Lower York Cemetery. Visitation will be 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Thomson. A Memorial fund has been established in Bette’s memory. Online Condolences and Memorial Tributes may be given to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com

Bette was born September 18, 1919, in Thomson, the daughter of Bayard and Amy (Groharing) Lewis. She was a 1937 graduate of York Community High School, a 5th generation Thomsonian, and a descendent of George Soule of the “Mayflower.” On October 30, 1937, Bette married Cecil Frosch. She later married Max Meakins in 1959, with whom she danced for 35 years until his death in 1994. Bette was active in her community, serving for 21 years as Village Clerk of Thomson. She was a member of the Savanna Women of the Moose, the Carroll Chapter DAR, the PTA, the Thomson Methodist Church and many other organizations. She loved to bake cookies and play euchre and, for most of her life, made a point of getting up in time to finish cleaning her house in time to watch the Cubs on TV. In her last years, she took great pleasure in hosting coffee each morning for “her girls.”

Left to remember her are her loving family: two daughters, Luanne (Lawrence) Bruckner, of Thomson, Teresa (Eric) Linn of Pueblo West, Colorado; two sons, Lewis Frosch of Thomson, Larry Joe (Janice) Frosch of Morris, Illinois; seven grandchildren: Jeffrey Frosch, Jason Frosch, Matthew Henneman, Amie Henneman Callahan, Heidi Henneman, Brianna Bruckner and Tyler Oliver; eight great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Bette is preceded in death by her husband, Max; grandson, Lawrence Lloyd Bruckner II; three sisters, Ramona Lewis Thompson, Roberta Lewis Wilhelm, and Dorothe Lewis; a brother, Robert Lewis; and her special friends Florence Melendy and Jean St. Ores.

Robert Oscar Kehl - Pending Notice

Robert Oscar Kehl, age 76, of Mesa, Arizona, formerly of Elizabeth, Illinois, died on Thursday, October 23, 2008 at the Phoenix V.A. Healthcare System in Phoenix, Arizona. Arrangements are pending at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Elizabeth.

Charles E. “Bud” Spencer, Jr

Charles E. “Bud” Spencer, Jr. age 74, of Thomson, Illinois, died Wednesday, December 3, 2008, at Big Meadows Nursing Home, Savanna, Illinois, and one day before his birthday. A Funeral Service will be held 12:00 noon, Saturday, December 6, 2008 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Thomson, Illinois with Reverend Bonnie Davies officiating. Inurnment will be in Lower York Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be 10:00 a.m.–12:00 noon Saturday, December 6, 2008 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made in Bud’s name to the York Township Library in Thomson to be used for Railroad related books and materials. Online condolences and memorial tributes may be sent to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Bud was born December 4, 1933, the son of Charles and Lenna Mae (Rice) Spencer, Sr. in Thomson. On April 27, 1956, Bud married Donna Rose Lahre. She passed away January 13, 1990.

Bud retired from the Burlington Northern Railroad after thirty-eight years of service. He was an avid Chicago Cubs; he enjoyed watching professional wrestling and old Western films on television. Bud loved talking about the railroad and sharing stories with others, his greatest joy was time spent with family and friends at Kyle’s Tavern in Thomson.

Bud will be dearly missed by his six children, Shelley (Jim) Falls of Thomson, Lenna Hodge and fiancé Mike Hammerand of Thomson and Carla Spencer of Thomson, Bradley (Sarah) Spencer of Savanna, Illinois; eleven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and five sisters, Janet (Freeman) Edwards of Minnesota, Vada (Frank) Waities of Galena, Illinois, Pat (Elmer) Wurster, Joyce (Frank) LaShelle, Bonnie (Angel) Ayala, all of Thomson. Bud was preceded in death by his wife, Donna; both parents; his sisters, Betty Sykes; two infant sisters; and one infant brother.