Obituaries
Death of Tellie “Ford” Alger Jr.
Tellie “Ford” Alger Jr. died July 23 at his home in Benld. He had been in failing health for some time and was under hospice care at the time of his death. Ford was 88.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, at the Benld United Methodist Church, 209 S. Main St., with Pastor Rick Pierce presiding.
Ford was born Aug. 24, 1922, in East St. Louis, to Tellie Ford Alger Sr. and Mattie Jane (Stricker) Alger. Ford was the oldest of six children: Ruth came next, then Patricia, David, Betty, and, finally, Janey. Betty and Janey are deceased.
Ford attended East St. Louis High School, worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps for a time, then entered the Army in February 1943. He served as a medic and saw a great deal of action, in Normandy, Northern France, the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. He was honorably discharged in October 1945.
Just before he left for the Army, he married Mildred Louise Malin (Muh*lynn) on Feb. 20, 1943. She died in 1993. Ford and Mildred lived first in East St. Louis, later in a home that Ford built in Dupo, then in Granite City. They moved to Benld in 1973.
Ford and Mildred had four children: Robert Alger, who died in 1972; Michael Alger, who died at birth, Kathy Herron of Benld, and Diana Greenly of South Roxana; five grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.
Ford worked at American Steel, Granite City Steel, A.O. Smith, and then at Nestle. He retired in 1986.
He and Mildred loved to play card games, enjoyed going to the Muny, and going out to eat. Ford was a former president of the Benld chapter of the AARP. He was a member of the VFW and the Benld United Methodist Church.
Ford’s ashes with be interred at a later date alongside his wife’s at Lakeview Memorial Gardens in Fairview Heights.
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Nancy Ilene Weller, 74, of Gillespie, died at St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at 2:52 pm. She was born June 4, 1949, in Litchfield, to Charles Giller and Margaret Whitman Giller. She married Kenneth Raymond Weller, Sr., on August 17, 1968, in Litchfield. He preceded her in death on December 5, 2011.
She was a caregiver. Nancy loved horses, reading, and her grandchildren.
She is survived by her children, Chester (Katina) Weller of Gillespie, Luke Weller of Gillespie, Spring Weller (spouse, Phillip Benner) of Fowler, IN, 6 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, 5 brothers, and sisters.
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, spouse, 4 brothers, and sisters.
No public services are scheduled. Memorials are suggested to Shriners Hospitals for Children. Anyone wishing to send an online condolence may do so at www.kravanyafuneral.com. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, is in charge of the arrangements.
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Beverly Kay Brown, 82, of Gillespie, died at Gillespie Health and Rehab Center, Gillespie, on Friday, March 8, 2024, at 8:45 am. She was born October 4, 1941, in Litchfield, to Mario Meldi and Opal Olston Meldi. She married Bob Brown on October 30, 1976.
She worked for the State of Illinois in title transferring and data processing. Beverly enjoyed reading and was an avid reader of People’s magazine.
She is survived by her spouse, Bob Brown of Gillespie, children, Joell (Sid) Flyte of Edwardsville, Jackie (Larry) Fear of The Villages, FL, Kathy Giesler of Mattoon, Kim (Joe) Brittin of Springfield, Jane (Greg) Hallum of Ishpeming, MI, Lori Brown of Temecula, CA, grandchildren, Breanna Leake, Dominique Flyte, Addie Flyte, Bradley Fear, David Fear, Brad Brittin, Melissa Casad, Amanda Kozak, Jaime Galloway, Jaimee Dobson, Jenny Knight, Emily Nault, Elyssa Gregurash, Erin Baldini, many great-grandchildren, brothers, Ron (Corky) Meldi of Nitro, WV, and sisters-in-law, June Swan and Loni Cloyd. Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, grandson, Jedd Hallum, and brother-in-law, Preston Brown.
Friends may call on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. Funeral services are Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 1:00 pm at Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie. Burial will be at Benld Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to SS Simon and Jude Church. Anyone wishing to send an online condolence may do so at www.kravanyafuneral.com Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, is in charge of the arrangements.
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Darrell Leon Hoffstot, 69, of Gillespie, died at St. Francis Hospital, Litchfield, on Saturday, March 2, 2024. He was born October 2, 1954, in Granite City, to Willard Lee Hoffstot and Hazel Mae Holloway Hoffstot.
He was retired after having been an assembler for Echlin. Darrell enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, and water skiing.
He is survived by his sons, Zachary Hoffstot of Mt. Olive, and Zane Hoffstot of Gillespie, and sisters, Sandra Elledge of Litchfield, and Peggy (Joseph) Fischer. Darrell was preceded in death by his parents, and brother, Victor Hoffstot.
No public services will be held. Anyone wishing to send an online condolence may do so at www.kravanyafuneral.com. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, is in charge of the arrangements.
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