Shirley A. Dial – Benton, IL

Shirley Anne (Kiesling) Dial, age 93, of Benton, passed away at 11:31 a.m. Saturday, January 13, 2024, at the Herrin Hospital.
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Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon Saturday, January 20, 2024, at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton, with Rev. Ron Cremeens officiating. Burial will follow in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Saturday at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Shirley was born on September 1, 1930, in Kankakee, Illinois, the daughter of Gilbert Kiesling and Nellie (Sims) Kiesling. She would marry Neal Gordon Dial on August 5, 1947, and together they shared 66 years of marriage. Neal preceded her in death on April 11, 2013.

Mrs. Dial was the owner and operator of Shirley’s women’s clothing stores of Benton, West Frankfort, and Mt. Vernon. She and her husband formerly owned and operated a General store/Grocery store and Post Office in Akin.

Shirley was of the Baptist faith. She attended the Immanuel Baptist Church of Benton and formerly attended the First Baptist Church of Thompsonville.

She enjoyed traveling, spending time on her balcony at her condominium in Biloxi, Mississippi watching the ocean and the birds. She also enjoyed flower gardening, watching horse racing, and car racing. She was a fan of Hendrick Motorsports. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her sons and her grandchildren.

Surviving are her two sons: Dennis W. Dial and wife Donna of Benton, IL, Rodney A. Dial and wife Jayma of West Frankfort, IL; four grandchildren: Eric W. (Jami) Dial, Amanda L. (Mandi) Dial, Jory A. (Amy) Dial, Jalyn B. Dial; great grandchild: Riley J. Dial; step-great-grandchildren: Kaitlyn Wilburn, Olivia Harkins, Sophie Harkins, Ava Harkins; and great-great grandchildren: Beckham Wilburn and Ellie Kate Wilburn; also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a sister Dorothy Payne, a brother Bob Kiesling, and a grandson Jarod J. Dial.

The family prefers memorial contributions be made to either the Jarod Dial Scholarship Fund at West Frankfort High School or to the Benton Ministerial Alliance Children’s Summer Lunch Program; and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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