February 2024

Rita Jean (Dippel) Honer, 91, of Ottawa, passed away on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at her home. Rita was born on March 19, 1932 in Granville, IL.
Funeral services will be private. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
Rita was born on March 19, 1932 in Granville to Albert and Evelyn (Wallin) Dippel. She married Joseph J. Honer in 1952. Rita, along with her husband Joe, owned and operated House of Frames for over 25 years. She was an active member of the Reunion Committee of the Ottawa Township High School, Class of 1950. Rita was also proud of the time she spent volunteering at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center. She loved decorating the home for the holidays, card club gatherings, following her grand kids and great-grand kids.
She is survived by her two sons, Stephen Honer of Ottawa and Rick Honer of Winter Haven, FL; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe; her parents, Albert and Evelyn Dippel; two brothers, Bill and Leland Dippel; and a close friend, Joan Bretag.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
You may sign the online guestbook and share remembrances at www.MuellerFH.com. Mueller Funeral Home and Crematory 800 First Avenue, Ottawa, IL 61350 815-434-4433

Rita was laid to rest at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa, IL in the Garden of Inspiration.

Betty L. Blake, 89, a long1me resident of Elkhart, Indiana passed away on Tuesday, February 13,
2024 at Elkhart Meadows, where she had been living in memory care since 2020.
Born Betty Lou Stevenson on July 3, 1934, to Milton and Ethel Stevenson of Ottawa, Illinois, Betty
was the eighth of their nine children. She met Kenneth A. Blake, the love of her life, at Ottawa
Township High School, where they were elected Homecoming Queen and King as seniors in 1952.
After gradua1on, Betty worked for the American Association of State Highway Officials (now
“AASHTO”) and in 1957, she and Ken moved to Tokyo, Japan where Ken served in the United
States Armed Forces.
Upon their return Stateside in 1960, Betty worked for the Peace Corps while Ken completed his
master’s degree at the University of Northern Illinois in De Kalb, where they had the first of their
three children. They relocated to Elkhart in 1965 where Ken began a long career with Miles
Laboratories, and Betty thrived as a stay-at-home mom, as a floral design expert, and
as president of her kids’ PTA. Betty returned to the workforce in 1980 at Pierre Moran Junior High
and ul1mately retired from the Elkhart Community Schools a decade later.
A relentless volunteer and charity event organizer, Betty was constantly focused on improving the
lives of those around her, as well as the lives of people she had never met. We will miss her greatly.
Betty was preceded in death by Ken in 2022, just one month shy of their 70th wedding anniversary.
She is survived by her three children: Steven of Palm Springs, California; Stephanie of
Bloomington, Indiana; and Jennifer (Weaver) of Zionsville, Indiana; and three grandchildren:
Blake, Brock, and Whitney.
A special memorial service and celebration of life for both Betty and Ken will be held at a later
date in their hometown of Ottawa, IL, with interment at Oakwood Memorial Park. The family
requests that in lieu of flowers, tribute dona1ons may be made to the Alzheimer’s Associa1on at
act.alz.org.

Charles L. Anderson, 81, of Ottawa, passed away Friday, February 9, 2024 at The pavilion of Ottawa with his family by his side.
Visitation will be Tuesday, February 13, from 4:00pm until 7:00pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will be held at 1:00pm on Wednesday, February 14, at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park. Charles was born July 19, 1942, in Morris, IL, to Clyde and Theresa (Thompson) Anderson. He married Sharon Anderson on April 17, 1970 in Ottawa, IL.
Chuck was the proud owner of Chuck’s Shell Service Center from 1982 until 2016. He loved his work and spent many nights and weekends there. He was an avid sports fan, watching the White Sox, Bears, and Bulls as well as spending many Friday nights watching the Ottawa Pirates basketball and football teams. He was an Elvis Presley fanatic and was known by many of his customers and suppliers as Elvis. He loved his family and would give the shirt off his back to anyone that needed it.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sharon; his children, Kathy (Keith Sr.) Zehr, Kevin (Karen) Anderson, Kim Reynolds, Tim (Marilyn) Anderson, Scott (Naro) Anderson, Terry Anderson, Ryan (Jamie) Anderson, and Becky Anderson; his 15 grandchildren, and 21 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Charles A. Anderson; his granddaughter, Priscila Anderson; and his siblings, Alan Anderson, Jerry Dummitt, and Marilyn Anderson-England.
Pallbearers will be family members.

Memorials may be directed to the family. The online guest book may be viewed and remembrances shared at www.ottawafuneralhome.com

Charles was laid to rest at Oakwood Memorial Park, in the Garden of Hymns

Esther Lee (Fosdick) Stone, 86, of Ottawa, passed away on January 13, 2024 at the Ottawa Pavilion.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, February 12, 2024 at the First United Methodist Church in Ottawa with Rev. Seamus Enright, Pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa, IL. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.

Esther was born on September 21, 1937 in Cabery to Sylvester and Mary (Watkins) Fosdick. She worked as a bookkeeper at Carson Pirie Scott, Nappa, and worked as warranty administrator for Sierra Motors and other offices for over 30 years. Esther was a financial secretary at First United Methodist Church where she was a member for over 60 years. She married Birdle “Stonie” Stone on August 15, 1960 at First United Methodist Church. Esther and Stonie were the owners of Stonie Yellocab. She loved working in her yard, reading devotions, word searches, pictures of her family and friends.

She is survived by her daughter, Connie L. Stone-Oberholz, of Ottawa; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Birdle “Stonie” Stone, a son, Steve Stone; a great-granddaughter, Amelia; a brother and two sisters.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Johnathan, Caleb, Adam, and nephews, Larry, Harry, and Duane.

Memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church in Ottawa.

Esther was laid to rest in the Garden of the Last Supper at Oakwood Memorial Park, Ottawa, IL