Linda Lou (McBride) Acosta, 85, of Sesser, IL passed away on May 22, 2023.

She was born on January 8, 1938 in Sesser, IL to Lionel and Ethel (Walker) McBride. She was married to Alfonso Acosta and he preceded her in death on April 17, 2018.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three siblings Mary Louise Ragland, Mona Lou Guziejka and Austin A. McBride, one son Donald Biard “Fonz” Acosta and one grandson Matthew Acosta.

Linda was a homemaker and caretaker for many people, but she also worked for National Battery, Olin Mills, Burns Security, Central Dispatch, Celebrity Boats and Mariah Boats.

Linda enjoyed playing cards with her grandkids and bingo with her many friends. She also enjoyed fellowship and meals with Brother Larry and Sister Linda Cook. Her kitchen was always open.

She is survived by three sons Alfonso Acosta Jr., Kevin Acosta and Dale Acosta; one daughter Susan (Acosta) Payne and her husband Harlan; seven grandchildren Anthony Acosta, Jared Acosta, Cash Acosta, Dalton Acosta, Sarah Acosta, Dillon and Tara Payne and Justin Payne and one great grandson Gavin Michael Johnson.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday June 3, 2023 at 10:00 AM at the Mitchell Cemetery in Sesser with Brother Larry Cook officiating. Family and friends are asked to meet at the cemetery.

The Family would like to thank neighbors, family and friends for their prayers, phone calls and food that they have given to the family during their time of need.

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

Patricia (Pat) Ruth Miller went to be with her Heavenly Father on May 24, 2023 at 11:22 pm.

She was born to Frank and Ester (Stegman) Svanda on October 27, 1945 in Ava, IL. She graduated from Trico High School in 1963. After graduation, she moved to St. Louis and worked downtown in a bank, before moving home and becoming a bookkeeper at the Steeleville Bank in Steeleville, IL.

In 1976 she married Gene Miller on June 19, 1976. They shared 44 years of marriage during which they had two boys, Troy Gene Miller and Timothy Patrick Miller. When the boys were older, Pat became a dishwasher and eventually a cook at Lincoln School and eventually Grant School. Then she worked at the Benton Middle School before retiring. She was a devoted mother and grandmother, sister and friend who loved spending time with her family, planting flowers, craft shows and baking. Her favorite holiday was Christmas and she loved anything with snowmen. She enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s sporting events, awards ceremonies, graduation and school music events and picking them up from school. She enjoyed her daily breakfast at McDonald’s with her friends. She was extremely proud of her family and loved them more deeply and endlessly until her last breath. She was loved by many for her uplifting spirit, constant contagious smile, and the ability to talk to her about anything.

She is survived by her sons, Troy Gene Miller, wife Amanda, and their children, Matthew Gene and Isabella Lynn Miller and Timothy Patrick Miller, and wife Amy and her children, Blane, Annie and Braden.

She is also survived by four sisters: twins Carol Winscher, of Charleston, MO and Mary Bogenpohl (Jim) of St. Louis, MO; Debbie Hinkebein (Ted) of Florissant, MO; and Lisa Uffleman (David) of Murphysboro, IL and one brother, Rick Svanda (Cindy), of Ava, IL and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Ester Svanda and one brother, Donald Svanda, and her husband, Gene Miller.

Visitation will be on Monday, May 29, 2023 at Morton and Johnston Funeral Home at 410 S. Main in Benton, IL from 5 pm – 8pm. Funeral services will be on Tuesday, May 30 at 1 pm with the Pastor David Mitchell officiating. Burial will be at Masonic and Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton, following the service. A meal will be provided by the First United Methodist Church in Benton after the burial service. Memorial contributions can be made to the Rend City Baptist Church at the funeral home.

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

Kurt Lane Gregory, 38, of Benton, released on May 20, 2023 at his home after a 9 month fight against Melanoma.

He was born on March 29, 1985 in Urbana, IL to Ronnie and Linda (Roesch) Gregory. He married Carly (Lappin) Gregory on September 17, 2016 at a dear friend’s house in Carbondale, IL, where they found each other.

He was a graduate of Hamilton County Senior High in McLeansboro, IL in 2003, Rend Lake College in Ina, IL in 2005 and Southern Illinois University in Carbondale in 2008.

He is survived his wife Carly Gregory of Benton; parents Ron and Linda (Roesch) Gregory of McLeansboro; one brother Kent (Hanna) Gregory of San Tan Valley, AZ; one sister Angel (Jasen) Hawn of Elliott, IL; niece Jada (Katie) Hawn and Eli; nephew Chayton Hawn; father-in-law and mother-in-law Marion and Kelly Lappin of Sesser; one sister-in-law Rae (Ross) Worthey and nieces Jane and Marigold Worthey.

Graveside services for Kurt will be held on Tuesday May 23, 2023 at 1 PM at the Smith Cemetery in Buckner, IL. Friends and family are asked to meet at the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Envelopes will be available at the cemetery.

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

Scott Charles Pritchard, age 65, of Benton, Illinois, passed away Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at his home.

Graveside Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Monday, May 15, 2023, at the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton, with Father Urban Osuji officiating. Illinois State Police Honors will be observed. Friends are asked to go directly to the cemetery.
Following the graveside service, a Celebration of Life Open House will be held until 8:00 p.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church Parrish Center of Benton.
An additional Celebration of Life Service will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at the Benton Elk’s Lodge.
Leffler Funeral Home of Benton, is in charge of the arrangements.

Scott was born on July 6, 1957, in Benton, Illinois; the son of Charles Allen Pritchard and Catherine M. (Whittington) Pritchard. He married the former Wanda Sue Wolf on June 8, 2012; and she survives.

He was a retired Trooper with the Illinois State Police.

Scott was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, Benton Elks Lodge, and the Benton Boccie Ball Club.

He was a member of the First Christian Church of Benton.

Scott enjoyed hunting, driving his corvette, watching NASCAR, going to the Boccie Ball Club and visiting with his many friends. His favorite NASCAR driver was Jimmy Johnson.

Surviving is his loving wife Wanda Pritchard of Benton; a son Travis Gesell of Chicago; a brother Mike Pritchard and wife Debbie and their daughter Mallory of Benton; a close cousin Tim Tyler; father and mother-in-law: Willie and Mary Wolf of Benton; sister and brothers-in-law: Debbie Fertig and husband Scott of Midlothian, TX, Billy Wolf and wife Masumi of Edmond, OK, Vicky Wolf of West Frankfort, Angie Johnson and husband Chris of Marion, IL, Mark Wolf of Indianapolis, IN; several other cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents and Wanda’s son Devon LaPointe.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society and will be accepted at the services.
To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Scott, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com

Loretta Marie Whitlow, 90, of Sesser, passed away on Friday May 5, 2023 at SSM Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt Vernon.

She was born on May 1, 1933 in St Louis, MO to Fred and Margaret (Wigard) Heidkamp. She married Raymond Kenneth Whitlow and he preceded her in death on February 18, 2005.

She is survived by her children Michael (Rosemary) Whitlow of Michigan, Barbara (Ron) Clark of Sesser and Bill (Joyce) Whitlow of Sesser; grandchildren Beth (Eddie) Mudgette, Rhonda (Jimmy) Combs and Robert (Mandi) Whitlow; great grandchildren Kayla, Lane, Katie, Christopher and Dakota and one great great grandchild Camron; three sisters Joyce Heidkamp of Cisco, Betty Leach of Monticello and Peggy (Ron) Parsons of Cosco and one brother Delmar Heidkamp.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one granddaughter Alisha Whitlow and two brothers Robert and Edward Heidkamp.

Funeral services will be on Saturday May 13, 2023 at 1:00 PM at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser with Brother George Marshall officiating. Visitation will be on Saturday from 11:00 AM until the time of the service at 1:00 PM at the funeral home. Burial will be at Horse Prairie Cemetery in Sesser.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Horse Prairie Cemetery and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Linda S. Marvel, 82, of Benton, passed away at 5:15 a.m., on Monday, May 1, 2023, at Helia Health Care of Benton, IL.

She was born on October 20, 1940, to John and Lucinda (Gettings) Rich in Benton, IL. On October 25, 1958, Linda married Robert Marvel and he preceded her in death on December 31, 2020.

Linda was a loving mother and grandmother. She enjoyed crocheting, socializing, putting puzzles together, playing games and going to church.

Linda is survived by her daughter, Lori Hopkins and her husband, Michael, of Murphysboro, IL; seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Lucinda Carolyn Rich, husband, Robert Marvel, two sons, Jeffrey L. Marvel and David Keith Marvel and brother, Robert Gettings.

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

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at the Union Freewill Baptist Church, 1403 New Lake Road in Thompsonville, IL, with Pastor Ivan Ryan, officiating.

Burial will follow services at the Union-McCann Cemetery in Thompsonville, IL.
Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com.

Adelaine Faye Violet Valleroy, 92, of Christopher, passed away on April 30, 2023 at her home.

She was born on August 26, 1930 in Peoria, IL to Elmer and Ethel (Kirby) Casley SR. She married Nathan Valleroy and he preceded her in death.

She I survived by her daughter-in-law Cheryl Valleroy of Benton; grandchildren Timothy Learned, Casondra (Paul) Denton, Jacob (Erin) Learned, David (Melissa) Valleroy, Cristy (Travis) Bivins, Daniel Valleroy, Wesley Keith (Julie) Dunn, Sarah E. (Ethan) Klein and Katheryn Denise Valleroy; 18 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandchildren; two sisters Josephine Bohannan of Kansas and Bonnie Seiwell of Peoria, IL; Elmer Casley Jr of Arkansas and John Casley of Metamora, IL.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one daughter Diana Lynn Learned, one son Elmer Henry Valleroy and five brothers and sisters.

Adelaine loved to be outside working in her garden and with her flowers, but she especially loved her grandchildren.

Funeral services will be on Friday May 5, 2023 at 1:00 PM at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with Brother John Overturf officiating. Visitation will be on Friday from 11:00 AM until the time of the service at 1:00 PM at the funeral home. Burial will be at St Andrews Catholic Cemetery in Christopher.

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