Bette J. Riley

KEWANEE - Bette J Riley, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother of Kewanee, died at 3:30 PM Friday, February 26, 2021 at Toulon Health Care Center at the age of 96. 

She was born on June 3, 1924 in Elmira, the daughter of Hazen and Avis (Stone) Bennett.  Bette attended Wethersfield schools. She married W. Vaughn Riley on October 6, 1956 in Galesburg. They spent 49 years together before Vaughn’s passing on August 8, 2005.

She worked as an LPN and office assistant for Dr. Odey in Kewanee for many, many years before retiring. She was an avid walker and walked every morning at Walmart, racking up over 15,000 miles.  She also enjoyed dancing with her husband Vaughn at the Flemish Club and defeating anyone she could at cards.  She was a volunteer at Kewanee Care for several years helping with the weekly bingo games. Bette loved to smile and have a good time. She was always out and about with friends.  She also enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s sporting events, but most of all she loved spending time with her family. 

Betty was the last remaining sibling in her family.  She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, three sisters, Vivian Perkins, Wylma Larson and Hazel Mahaffey and six brothers, Clayton, Clyde, Frances “Scotty”, Jack, Hayden and Hazen “Red” Bennett.

She is survived by a daughter, Carol King of West Palm Beach, FL, four grandchildren, John (Gloria) Larson of Florida, Lisa Hoogerwerf (Jim) of Peoria, IL, Angela (John) Dietrich of New York and Robert King of Minnesota.  She is also survived by eight great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday March 26 at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee. A private inurnment will then follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in rural Kewanee. Memorials may be directed to the Hospice of the donor’s choice. Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee is assisting the family with arrangements.

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