Obituaries
Obituary of Elsie Lucille (Small) Street
Elsie Lucille Street of Litchfield passed away on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 94 years of age on the same date and virtually the same time as her late husband, Lee, passed fourteen years ago. Born January 28, 1931, in Litchfield to the late Charles Cleveland Small and Anna Sophia (Lehnert) Small, she was the first incubator baby at St. Francis Hospital weighing only 3-1/2 pounds at birth.
Elsie was extremely proud of her maternal Dutch-German heritage. Her grandmother, Jenna Muller, was one of thirteen children born to Riclef Peters Muller and Anthye Janssen Helen Detmers in Hage, Norden, Hanover, Prussia, Germany (on the North Sea) in 1858, with the entire family coming to the U.S. by ship in 1883.
Elsie married the love of her life, Lee Gilbert Allen Street, in Hillsboro on February 19, 1949; a marriage that spanned 62 years until his death in 2011. In her early years, Elsie was employed at St. Francis Hospital in the surgery and x-ray departments developing the majority of the x-rays for the victims of the 1948 Bunker Hill tornado disaster. For the remainder of her life she was a devoted homemaker and enjoyed working in her yard and tending her flowers. She was well-known for her “green thumb” and creating a beautiful variety of rare flowers and ferns in her yard.
She enjoyed and was extremely gifted in the arts of crochet, embroidery, painting, making soap, and baking and decorating cakes, cookies and candies. She was a prolific collector of vintage items and loved attending yard and estate sales. Elsie loved visiting with her friends and relatives both in person and on the phone as well as sending and receiving cards and letters. She loved dancing and listening to German Polka music and in her later years, she had a passion for jigsaw and word puzzles and watching cooking shows that featured children cooking or Cake Boss.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Litchfield where she was a member of King’s Daughters, worked in the nursery, and served in many capacities. She loved and honored the Lord and the teachings of the Bible. She was kind to everyone, honest to a fault, but also had a “fiery” spirit. She took care of her mother, stepfather, mother-in-law, uncle, and neighbors when they needed help or were at the end of life. She taught her children to be empathetic, honorable, and trustworthy.
Elsie’s life was defined by generosity – guided by Acts 20:35 (“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, who he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’), she often gave away her possessions to anyone she felt was in need. Her gentle kindness touched the lives of many.
It must be noted that Elsie loved each member of her family and all of her friends unconditionally. She was so proud of them and each of their accomplishments and made sure to let them (and everyone else) know.
Until recently, Elsie had been cared for by her daughter and “son”-in-law, Ann and David Allen of Litchfield for the past 13 years. Besides Ann and Dave, she also leaves a grandson, D. Brett Allen and his wife Kellie (Eaker) Allen of Wildwood, MO; one great grandson, Keegan Edward Allen of Wildwood, MO; daughter, Brenda Arter (John) of rural Raymond; and grandson, J. Nicholas Arter, and granddaughter, Abigail Katherine Arter, both who reside in St. Louis, MO. She also leaves several nieces and nephews who she held close to her heart.
Preceding her in death were her parents and husband; her step-father, Norris Sinclair DeWitt of Litchfield; her brother, Charles C. Small, and his wife, Delores of Greenville; her step-sister, Bess (DeWitt) Odle of Litchfield; her beloved niece, Peggy Michelle Miller Odle of Litchfield; and nephews, Robert and Dale Street of Litchfield, and Robert Street of Phoenix, AZ.
A private graveside service for immediate family members and Blessing for the deceased will be held on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11, 2025, with burial in Elm Lawn Cemetery, Litchfield. Lynne Taylor, Ministerial Chairperson of Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, will Officiate.
Elsie often said, “Give me flowers when I can enjoy them, not when I have passed.” With that request in mind, the family asks that in lieu of flowers memorials be made to Gillespie Health and Rehabilitation Activity Department, c/o Elsie’s daughter, Ann Allen, Litchfield.
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Ruth Ann “Sis” Pollard passed away on Monday, May 4, 2026, at Alton Memorial Hospital surrounded by her family. She was 79 years old. Ruth was born on April 19, 1947 in Staunton to Homer and Ruth (Clark) Cunningham.
She married George Pollard February 14, 1967, and he preceded her in death. Ruth was a caregiver and foster parent. Ruth was a selfless person who dedicated her life to give a home to special needs children. She was a very loving person when it came to her family and friends and they are going to miss her dearly.
Ruth is survived by three sons, Shane Pollard of Litchfield, Ron (Lorette) Pollard of Gillespie, and Jeff Pollard of Chesterfield; a daughter, Jackie (Leighann) Pollard of Chesterfield; grandchildren, Sean Pollard, Abigail Pollard, Adrian Davis, Jarod Cantrell, Ellen Kennedy, and Lilly Pollard; siblings, Judy (Paul) Spensberger, JoleneWard, Robert (Kathy) Cunningham, Mary (Nick) Hollis, Kelly (Jim) Force, and Gary Cunningham; sister-in-law, Violet Ballowe; daughter-in-law, Karla Pollard; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Homer and Ruth Cunningham; her daughter Michelle Pollard; former husband, George Pollard Jr; sister, Gail Mick; and four brothers, Tom, Jack, Delbert, and Jim Cunningham.
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at the Chesterfield Bible Church from 2 to 5 pm. Memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children. Kravanya Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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Ross Beckman, 90, joined his Lord in Heaven on April 29, 2026, at 2:27 AM. He was born on April 1, 1936, in Highland. His parents were Vernon Otto Bartels and Arlene Beckman, both of New Douglas. He was raised by his maternal grandparents, Emma (Sievers) and George Beckman of New Douglas.
Ross attended New Douglas Elementary School in New Douglas and Highland High School in Highland. His first job was at Kline’s Grocery Store in New Douglas. He also was employed at McDonnell Douglas as a sheet metal worker. He worked for Artophone Corporation and also distributed Armstrong Flooring, worked in sales, and traveled Illinois.
He purchased Sherman’s Department Store on East Main Street in Staunton and renamed it Beckman’s Department Store. He operated the store for 30 years before retiring. He then bought property for a new business in Equine Ranch.
Ross was married to Lela Conroy of Staunton. They had one daughter, Wendy Arlene. Lela passed away after a long illness with Huntington’s Corea. Ross was married to Frances Lee Simpson of Staunton for 27 years. She passed away from illness in 2016. He then married Sheila Fay Foster of Carlinville on May 27, 2017, at Zion Lutheran Church in Staunton.
Ross was a member of the Staunton Jaycees for six years and was also the Chaplain for the State Jaycees. The local chapter gave him a lifelong membership. Ross served one term on the Staunton City Council as a ward #4 alderman and also was on the Dorchester Township Board. He was a long-time elder for the Zion Lutheran Church in Staunton.
He was an avid horseman. His horse, “Atomico” was not only his show horse but his loving pet. Ross became a member of The Assembly Church in Staunton and was a very active and a devoted servant. He loved his “church family”.
He is survived by his wife, Sheila (Foster) Beckman; son-in-law, John Walker; three brothers-in-laws, James E. Foster Jr., Gary Foster, and Mike Foster; two sisters-in-law, Deborah (Foster) Wilson and Amy Foster, all originally from Carlinville.
Besides his wives and parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Wendy Arlene.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at The Assembly Church, 1335 S. Hackman Street, in Staunton with Pastor Arthur Braden officiating.
Ross will be greatly missed, but is in the arms of his Lord Jesus. Williamson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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