Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO Local Obituaries for the Week of February 4, 2009 Velma Bennett Hanks Velma Bennett Hanks of Steelville, Missouri was born on August 26, 1925 to Arthur and Ada (Meek) McDaniel in Dexter, Missouri and passed away Monday, January 26, 2009 at the Phelps County Regional Hospital in Rolla, Missouri at the age of 83 years. On February 26, 1946, she was united in marriage to Kenneth Edward Hanks who preceded her in death on May 23, 2005. Velma was a member of the Rivers of Life Church for the last 10 years. Previously, she attended the Assembly of God in Steelville, Missouri. Throughout the years, she enjoyed reading, bird watching and working crossword puzzles. One important activity that Velma continued to do was read her Bible daily. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; one son, Kenneth Bruce Hanks; two brothers, Lindell McDaniel and Harvey McDaniel and one sister, Gertrude Elledge. She is survived by five children, Marion “Marty” Arthur Hanks and wife Martha, Timothy, “Tim” Lynn Hanks and wife, Vicky; Beverly Louise Conaway and husband Richard and Linda Darlene Barton, all of Steelville, Missouri and Jerry Edward Hanks and wife Jean of House Springs, Missouri; one sister, Wanda Lemmons of Dexter, Missouri; 17 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild; other relatives and many friends. Visitation was from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at the Britton- Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri. Funeral services were held at 11 on Thursday, January 29, 2009 at the Britton- Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri with Rev. Henry Copling officiating and Rev. Jerry Beers reading the obituary and a poem. Special music of “On My Father’s Side” was sung by Claudette Barton and “Where We Will Never Die” was sung by Eldon Barton. Other music of “Going Away Party,” “Serenaded by Angels” and “Welcome Home” were also played. Mary Young, a recent acquaintance of Velma read a story of when and how Velma met her husband, Kenneth many years ago at Wildwood. Casket bearers were Rodney Conaway, Micah Hanks, Marc Hanks, Bryan Sencibaugh, Steven Hanks and Kevin Hanks. Honorary casket bearer was Brandon Hanks. Committal prayer and burial were in the Steelville Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, Missouri. Peggy J. Hopwood Peggy J. Hopwood of Cuba, Missouri was born Sunday, April 6, 1930 at Moweaqua, Illinois to the union of Fred and Alice (nee Neu) Cook and passed away Sunday, February 1, 2009 at Cuba, Missouri at the age of 78 years, 9 months and 25 days. Peggy worked as a waitress for many years before going to classes in St. Petersburg, Florida to receive her certified nurses aid certificate. She spent 25+ years working as a CNA in hospitals and nursing homes before retiring. Peggy was an excellent seamstress; she made clothing, dolls, quilts and anything else that was needed. She enjoyed dancing to country music in her younger years, canning, crocheting, painting, yard sales, eating out and was an avid collector of everything. But what she enjoyed most was her family and spending time with them. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Dorothy Presson; brother, Donald Cook; grandchild, Bobby; other relatives and friends. She is survived by her husband, Henry Hopwood, Jr. of Cuba, Missouri; daughter, Carole DeLancy of Cuba, Missouri; son, Robert and wife Crystal Taylor of Cuba, Missouri; three step sons, Timothy, Kenneth, Dennis and wife Barb Hopwood; seven grandchildren, Donald, Richard, Jaimie, Corina, Venus, Nikia and Neffie; eight step grandchildren; six great grandchildren, Liz, Carly, Aaron, Briana, Justin and Cole; one great great grandchild, Rachael; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held Tuesday, February 3, 2009 from 5-8 p.m. at Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri. Funeral service 10 a.m. Wednesday, February 4, 2009 at Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri. Interment Delhi Cemetery, Cuba, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri. William E. Hunter Sr. William E. Hunter, Sr. of Bourbon, Missouri, was born on March 2, 1923 at Kingston, West Virginia to William S. and Elsie Belle (Chambers) Hunter and passed away Monday, January 26, 2009 at the age of 85 years. On April 4, 1941 he was married to Aileen Wingrove and to this union nine children were born. He served his country during WWII with the U.S. Army and was honorably released with a medical discharge. His vocation in life was that of a miner and his career started at the age of 16 in the coal mines of West Virginia and later worked in Uranium mines. He moved to Bourbon and was employed at Meramec Mining Company where he retired. He enjoyed gardening, hunting and fishing. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Edward and a sister, Katherine. He is survived by his wife of the family home; eight sons, William Hunter, Jr. and wife Marie of Bourbon, Missouri, Lanny Hunter and wife Connie, of Bourbon, Missouri, Thomas Hunter of Bourbon, Missouri, Randy Hunter and wife Karen of Leasburg, Missouri, James Hunter and wife Tammy of Bourbon, Missouri, Patrick Hunter of Bourbon, Missouri, Gary Hunter and wife Donna of Bourbon, Missouri and Larry Hunter and wife Frannie of Cuba, Missouri; one daughter Helen Knuckles and husband Donn of Bourbon, Missouri; one sister, Virginia Hunter Price of Wilmington, Delaware; 22 grandchildren; 38 great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; other relatives and friends. Visitation was from 4:30-8 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, Missouri. Funeral services were conducted at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 from the Chapel of the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan with interment in Bourbon Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of the Eaton Funeral Home, Sullivan, Missouri. Bonnie Immekus Bonnie Immekus of Stanton, Missouri was born in the Oak Hill area near Cuba, Missouri on June 16, 1938 to John H. and Lucille L. (Ryerson) Ernie and passed away Friday, January 23, 2009 at the age of 70 years. She had lived the majority of her life in the Sullivan area. She married Gary D. Immekus on July 11, 1959. In her younger years she was employed as a waitress and later became a machinist at the former Ramsey plant in Sullivan, Missouri. She enjoyed water skiing and fishing and found pleasure in gardening and flowers. She also belonged to the Fraternal Order of Eagles. She is survived by two sons; Dennis Immekus and wife Dana of Steelville, Missouri and Wayne Immekus of Sullivan, Missouri; one daughter, Debbie Huskey and husband Shane of Leslie, Missouri; one brother, John Ernie and wife Carole of Ellington, Missouri; two sisters, Darlene Bell and husband Stanley of Bourbon, Missouri and Joann Williamson and husband Gene of Sullivan, Missouri; two grandchildren; other relatives and friends. Visitation was from 4:30-8 p.m. on Thursday, January 29, 2009 from the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, Missouri. Funeral services were at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 30, 2009 from the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, Missouri with interment in Stanton Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of the Eaton Funeral Home, Sullivan, Missouri. James M. McGlasson James M. McGlasson of Lawson, Missouri was born on February 11, 1935 in Huzzah, Missouri, the son of Oscar and Ruth (Potter) McGlasson and passed away Sunday, January 25, 2009 at his home at the age of 73. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. On August 12, 1972 he married Hazel (Sousley) McGlasson. He retired from Ford Motor Company and also worked in heating and cooling. James was a member of the Lawson Baptist Church, He was a 32nd Degree Mason, and a member of the Liberty Masonic Lodge and the Aarat Shrine. He loved country music and enjoyed playing in country music shows. He was preceded in death by his parents and five brothers. Survivors include his wife Hazel of the home; one daughter, Melissa Duncan and husband Lance of Rayville, Missouri; two step daughters, Pamela Barrett and husband Roy of Holt, Missouri and Teresa Edwards and husband Wendell of Liberty, Missouri; two sisters, Vivian Baker of Cherryville, Missouri and Georgia Werner of Rolla, Missouri; 10 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, January 29, 2009 at the Lawson Baptist Church, Lawson, Missouri. Masonic Service was held at 5:30 p.m. at the church. Graveside Services were at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2009 at the Steelville Cemetery, Steelville, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Polley Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Lillie Belle Rhoads Lillie Belle Rhoads of Belle, Missouri, was born September 9, 1920, in a rural farmhouse north of Belle, Missouri and passed away Saturday, January 24, 2009 at the Frene Valley Healthcare-South in Owensville, Missouri at the age of 88 years. On April 20, 1946, she was married to Mann Emerson Rhoads. Lillie’s first Church was one her father had helped build, the Pilot Knob Baptist Church. She and Mann later attended the Vichy Church of God. She was preceded in death by her four brothers, Grover Keeney, Harry Robertson, Rainey Robertson and Charles Robertson. She is survived by her husband of St. James, Missouri; four sons, Larry and wife Sharlene of Raymore, Missouri, Patrick and wife Oleta of Belle, Missouri, Ricky and wife Jaimole of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Randy and wife Theresa of Belle, Missouri; a daughter, LaRayna Pirrie and husband Patrick of Cuba, Missouri; 14 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Funeral services were Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at the Vichy Church of God. Burial was in the Useful Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Sassmann’s Funeral Home in Belle, Missouri. Leonard Edward Slankard Leonard Edward Slankard of Sullivan, Missouri was born at Richwoods, Missouri on January 8, 1950 to Noah David and Iona Marie (Patterson) Slankard and passed away Monday, January 26, 2009 at the age of 59 years and 18 days. At the age of 12 years, Leonard moved with his family to the Sullivan area to make his home. He honorably served his country with the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. On June 30, 1972 he was united in marriage to Gay Pratt at Bourbon, Missouri. Leonard was well known throughout the area as an accomplished musician and songwriter. He was also a truck driver for many years. He was easy going and had a host of friends with whom he shared his sense of humor. He attended the Sullivan Christian Church. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Bill; two infant brothers; and two sisters, Bertha Neier and Berta Faye Roddy. He is survived by his wife; one son, Jeffrey Slankard and wife Heather of Bourbon, Missouri; two daughters, Becky Evans and husband Mark of Sullivan, Missouri and Tammy Slankard and fiancé Greg Carpenter of St. Clair, Missouri; three brothers, Bob Slankard and wife Frieda, Rick Slankard and wife Linda and Chuck Slankard and wife Donna, all of Sullivan, Missouri; one sister, Melba Leturgez of Sullivan, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Adrianna, Alexis, Ariella, Logan and Jeffrey Slankard, Ginny Williams and Nicholas Carpenter; one great grandson, Damon Trower; other relatives and friends. Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 30, 2009 from the Sullivan Christian Church with Pastor Jeff Bent officiating. Interment with full military honors in the Hill Cemetery, Bourbon, Missouri. All arrangements under the direction of the Eaton Funeral Home. Milford H.H. Winter Milford H.H. Winter of Owensville, Missouri was born in Rosebud on October 9, 1912, to August and Martha (Wehmeyer) Winter and passed away Monday, January 26, 2009 at Frene Valley Healthcare South in Owensville, Missouri at the age of 96 years. He attended Lutheran Parochial School where he was confirmed, graduated from Owensville High School in 1933, attended Hohenschuh Carpenter Mortuary College then doing his apprenticeship under William F. Gottenstroeter. On July 3, 1938 in Owensville, Missouri, he married Velma Gottenstroeter and they continued in the business operating the Gottenstroeter Funeral Home until 1983. Milford and Velma also owned and operated Winter’s Home Furnishing Store until 1970. Velma passed away in 1992. He then married Laura (Uffmann) Dothage on June 26, 1993. He was a member of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, Owensville Lions Club, Owensville Chamber of Commerce, charter member of Board of Directors for Senior Citizens Housing, served as Vice President of Citizens Bank, 50 year member of Missouri Funeral Directors Assn., 45 year member of Missouri Pilots Assn., belonged to Flying Funeral Directors Association, Flying Farmers Association and member of Airplane Owners and Pilots Association. He helped organize the Owensville Country Club. He was preceded in death by his first wife; daughter, Jane Winter in infancy; his sisters, Eileen Morris, Mabel Woods, Margaret Thompson and Alice Somerville He is survived by his wife; brothers-in-law, Emil Niewald, Bill Woods and Dixon Somerville and wife Sharon, all of Owensville, Missouri. Visitation was held beginning at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28, 2009. Funeral services were held on Thursday, January 29, 2009 at 11 a.m. at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Owensville, Missouri with Rev. Kevin Weaver and Rev. Bob Baur officiating. Burial in the Owensville City Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of the Gottenstroeter Funeral Home, Owensville, Missouri. Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.org/mo/mofiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWebArchives by: Winnie Brooks