Helen I. Stephens

Helen I. Stephens, 96, of Aledo, died peacefully Thursday, February 25, 2016, at home surrounded by her loving family. Private family services will be held, with burial in Candor Cemetery, rural Aledo. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either Sunbeam United Presbyterian Church or the VFW Post 1571 Auxiliary and may be sent to Speer Funeral Home, Aledo. Condolences may be left for the family at www.speerfuneralhome.com. The former Helen Smith was born Sept. 26, 1919, in Preemption Township, the daughter of George and Lela Nesbitt Smith. She married Gerald Stephens on Jan. 1, 1941, in Montezuma, Iowa. He died Feb. 13, 2003. They farmed the family farm in Sunbeam, Ohio Grove Township, retiring in 1982 to Aledo. Mrs. Stephens was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Sunbeam United Presbyterian Church in Ohio Grove Township, Oak View Country Club in Aledo, Mercer County Farm Bureau, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1571 Auxiliary in Aledo and the Genesis Medical Center Aledo Auxiliary. Mrs. Stephens loved watching sports, especially the Chicago Cubs, Bears and Bulls and the Fighting Illini. She was active in golf, bowling and playing cards. Surviving are a daughter, Judie (Ronnie) Bonynge of Andalusia; a son, Jim (Beth) Stephens of Aledo; a sister, Ethel “Tommy” Greer of Aledo; three grandchildren, Dr. Lisa Stephens (Chuck Gysi) of Aledo, Jeff Stephens (Fiancé, Starla Dodge) of Aledo and Pam (Justin) Dilly of Moline; two great-grandsons, Rafe Stephens of Viola and Clayton Stephens of Aledo; a niece, Dixie (Bill) Krueger of Delray Beach, Fla., and a number of great-nieces and great-nephews. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Lola Strine; and a daughter-in-law, Barbara Whan Stephens.