Betty Louise Steinberg Wendt | 91 | Belleview

On Sept. 27, 1934 life in Belleview Hollow, Calhoun County, IL hadn’t changed much in over a hundred years. That day, Betty Louise was born at home to Vera (Whisman) and Casper Steinberg. A three-room house with no electricity, phone, or indoor plumbing. Travel was by horse and wagon. Heat came from a wood cook and heating stove.
Her childhood was happy with no concept of rich or poor. Their small farm provided plenty of food and love. Betty had two sets of clothes, one to wear and a spare. Her grandparents, Henry and Lizzie (Sevier) Steinberg lived across the creek. Tony, her older brother, would race her across the swinging bridge to get to G and G’s when they saw the Huckster wagon arrive. Sunday afternoons were filled with lots of food and cousins; the Bland’s, Price’s, Pepper’s, Steinberg’s, Whisman’s and more.
She and Tony actually walked to their one room schoolhouse a mile away, uphill, even in the snow. In bad weather their father would take them by horseback. She started First grade at 4 years old, so her mother could work in the family orchard. The first automobile she was offered a ride in terrified her and she wouldn’t get in. Early Christmas’s were a source of great joy. A sock with an orange, pieces of hard candy and best of all, Paper Dolls! Oh, how she loved paper dolls! She’d even cut up the precious Sears catalog to dress the models. One winter night in January 1944 Betty remembered lying in bed and hearing a baby cry. It was her little brother, Taylor, being born in the next room.
At 9 years old Betty met a cute blonde headed 11-year-old boy from Herington, KS, Sonny (Ron) Wendt. He’d come with her aunt and cousin, Dora and Wayne Whisman, for a visit. That cute boy from Kansas made quite an impression and 10 years later they were married on May 9, 1953 in Wichita Falls, TX. They made quite a pair. Ron at nearly 6’5” and Betty almost 5’1 1/2.” Betty said if you lived in Calhoun County, “you had to marry someone from Calhoun or swim the river.” She swam the river. Their only child, Jody, was born on Aug. 5, 1954 in Salina, KS. While Ron was deployed with the Air Force, she and Jody lived with her parents in Calhoun County.
After moving back to Illinois, Betty went to work in the fall of 1955 to earn a little Christmas money. She ended up staying with Hellrung Construction Co. in Alton, for 28 years. Betty went from receptionist to Bookkeeper and being on their Board of Directors. Ron and Betty never shied away from hard work. For extra income they purchased and rehabbed multiple properties in the Alton/Godfrey area. Their largest being the 130 years old, four story Faulstich/Laura building at Lincoln Douglas Square in Alton. They’d work their full-time jobs, rehab from 5-11 pm, sleep, a little, and start all over again the next day. Betty always said her favorite thing to do is “whatever I’m doing right now.” “If I’m ironing, I love to iron, if I’m cutting brush, I love to cut brush, if I’m reading, I love to read.” But her personal passion was all things Calhoun County. She loved its rich geography of rivers, steep hills, valleys, creeks, wildlife and its colorful people. So proud to be a sixth generation part of it all. Many long hours were spent researching all branches of her family tree. Best of all was when she could share her stories and gather more from others. As her eyesight slowly dimmed, she spent more time trying to capture all the history she could. Betty wanted everyone she met to feel seen and to know they were important to her. Never complaining and always the ‘Encourager’ and rooting for others.
Betty’s love for her husband, Ron, was eternal. One of her last words were “Where’s my Ron?” Married 72 years, 6 months, and 18 days.
Her family is saddened to announce her passing on Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 27 at her daughter and son-in-law’s home at the age of 91. She was surrounded by four generations of her loved ones. She leaves her cherished family with a yearning to learn, to listen, and do more; with an inheritance of a stubborn streak, gratefulness for all God has provided, a desire to avoid complaining and “if you broke it, fix it” attitude.
Betty is survived by her husband, Ron of Belleview IL, a brother, Taylor (Lorraine) Steinberg of Quincy, IL, a daughter, Jody (Wendt) Yaeger, favorite son-in-law, Jim Yaeger both of Mozier, IL, Granddaughter, Lesley (Lanier) Shull of Charlotte, NC, Grandson, Ron (Jena) Yaeger of Fairhope, AL, Great Grandchildren, George Lanier Shull, Rosalind Elizabeth Shull, (goes by ‘Betty’) of Charlotte, NC, Grant Fitzgerald Yaeger, James Henry Yaeger and Janey Vera Yaeger of Fairhope, AL.
She was proceeded in death by her parents and a brother and sister-in-law, Tony and Virginia Steinberg of Belleview, IL.
Betty requested cremation, no visitation, and a graveside service. A memorial graveside service will be held at Summit Grove Cemetery in Kampsville, IL on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 10 a.m. Lummis Funeral Home of Pleasant Hill, IL is handling arrangements. Memorials can be made to Summit Grove Cemetery or The Calhoun County Historical Association.
How lucky I am to have something that makes saying Goodbye so hard. A.A. Milne