Mirror, Steelville Star-Crawford Steelville, Crawford Co. MO Local Obituaries for the Week of July 3, 2012 Betty Jean Blomberg Betty Jean Blomberg (nee Brown) was born on December 8, 1933, at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Washington, Missouri to Chester and Crystal Brown and passed away on June 23, 2012, at the age of 78 years. Betty was raised in Spring Bluff, Missouri and attended Bacon Ridge School until the eighth grade. She graduated from Sullivan High School in 1951. After graduation, Betty moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where she worked as a secretary for the Rexall Company. While in St. Louis, she met Leonard Blomberg, and they were married on June 5, 1954 in Spring Bluff. To this union a son was born. The family moved to Sullivan, Missouri in August 1957. Throughout her years in Sullivan, Betty was employed as a secretary at Midwest Shoe, a secretary at Temple Baptist Church, a shoe salesperson at Davis Shoe Store, and she worked at Sullivan Community Hospital for 22 years. After retiring from the hospital, she worked part time in the office at Ace Manufacturing. She was a longtime member of Temple Baptist Church in Sullivan and a member of the Sullivan Garden Club. She enjoyed growing flowers in her yard and especially enjoyed her monthly luncheons with classmates from the SHS class of 1951. She was also an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. Betty loved to travel with her family. She enjoyed planning and taking trips to places such as California, Colorado, Florida, Maine and the Grand Canyon, and taking cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean. Each year, Betty and Leonard attended the Old Threshers Reunion in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and the Balloon Race in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She is survived by her husband, Leonard Blomberg; one son, Jim Blomberg of Sullivan, Missouri; one brother and sister-in-law, Don and Judy Brown of Spring Bluff, Missouri; one sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Jack Alumbaugh of Derby, Kansas; one sister-in-law, Hilda Tavenner and husband Edward Tavenner of Cuba, Missouri; nephews, Joe Brown, Matt Varnon and John Tavenner; nieces, Lisa Meadows, Connie Kleinhan, Vickie Gowen, Monica Wullschleger and Patricia Tavenner; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held from 4-8 p.m. on Monday, June 25, 2012. Funeral was held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at Temple Baptist Church. Interment was at the Cave Springs Cemetery in Spring Bluff, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Eaton Funeral Home of Sullivan, Missouri. “Aunt” Selma Nora Brown “Aunt” Selma Nora Brown of Cuba, Missouri was born Thursday, April 4, 1918 at Maries County, Missouri to Jesse and Soletta (nee Johnson) Branson and passed away Sunday, June 24, 2012 at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, St. Louis, Missouri at the age of 94 years 2 months and 20 days. Aunt Selma retired in 1988 after years of working in a factory and cooking at school in the Jefferson City area. After retiring she moved to Cuba, to be closer to family. The past few years Selma enjoyed watching TV and reading. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jesse and Soletta Branson; husband, Charlie Brown; three brothers, Warren, Glen and Louis Branson and two sisters, Louella Groff and Lorene Stone. She is survived by her niece, Pat and husband Charlie Medows of Cuba, Missouri; nieces and nephews; great nieces and nephews; great great nieces, and nephews; great great great nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends. Visitation was from 10 a.m. until noon on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at the Mizell Funeral Home in Cuba, Missouri. Funeral service was at noon Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at the Mizell Funeral Home of Cuba with Pastor Pat Gruber officiating. Special music was “Precious Memories” “The Promise” and “When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder” by Sloan Medows, Don Britton and Darlene Cape. Pallbearers were Jason Medows, Jeff Medows, Darrell Patrick, Adam Patrick, John Hewkin, Brian Barrett, Richard Stone, Doug Stone and Carl Holman. Interment and prayers followed at the Francis Cemetery, Belle, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Mizell Funeral Home in Cuba, Missouri. Mark D. Jordan Mark D. Jordan of St. James, Missouri was born in Lexington, Kentucky on January 18, 1962 to Cletus and Bertha (Hutchinson) Jordan and passed away Sunday, June 24, 2012 at the Golden Living Center in St. James at the age of 50 years. Mark enjoyed model cars, drinking coffee, playing cards, fishing and all types of music. He loved playing the guitar, spending time with family and friends and he especially loved spending time with his nephew and niece. Mark was a helper and peacemaker, he was always ready with a joke and a smile when someone was down and having a bad day. He was preceded in death by his father, Cletus Jordan; maternal grandparents and paternal grandparents. He is survived by his mother, Bertha Jordan, of Rolla, Missouri; sister, Debbra Bailey; nieces, Laurel Bailey, Lynett McPeak; great nephew and niece, Koda Daniel and Alyssa Lyn McPeak; other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held at the Lewis & Fergeson Funeral Home in Sandy Hook, Kentucky. Times are incomplete at this time. Arrangements under the direction of the James & Gahr Mortuary. Kathryn C. Landing Kathryn Landing of Leasburg, Missouri was born on April 24, 1935 to Alvie and Bernice (Appel) Higgins at Bourbon, Missouri and passed away Friday, June 22, 2012 at the age of 77 years. She grew up in Bourbon and graduated from Bourbon High School class of 1952. Kathryn was employed as an accountant for Ryder Trucks for many years. On August 27, 1977 she was united in marriage to Bill Landing at Fenton, Missouri. After retirement Kathryn and Bill enjoyed boating, traveling and living all over the United States in their RV. For the past few years, Kathryn made her home at the Meramec Valley Resort where she had many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alvie and Bernice Higgins; her husband, William “Bill” Landing; four brothers, Millard “Bud” Higgins, Lealand, Higgins, George Higgins, Alvie “Jr.” Higgins; one sister, Aileen Turcotte and her step-father, Edward C. Winklemann. She is survived by three sons, Jeffery Todd Schmidt of Potosi, Missouri, Greg Schmidt of Stanton, Missouri and Byron Keith Schmidt of Leasburg, Missouri; one daughter, Julie Giuliani and husband Todd of Sullivan, Missouri; a step-daughter, Joy Peltz and husband Brian of Westland, Michigan; eight grandchildren; six great grandchildren; other relatives and friends. A memorial service was conducted at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at the Lodge of Meramec Valley Resort on Hwy. UU in Cuba, Missouri with Hospice Chaplin Alan Amos officiating. Arrangements under the direction of the Eaton Funeral Home, Sullivan, Missouri. Mary Frances Martin Mary Frances Martin of Cedar Hill, Missouri was born to Herman Henry and Goldie Marie (Groves) Laster on November 9, 1944 in Charleston, Missouri and passed away Saturday, June 23, 2012 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri at the age of 67 years. Mary was a hairdresser for many years and was currently working at Sherry’s in South St. Louis. In her spare time she enjoyed sewing, cooking, drawing and painting, but most of all she enjoyed being mom and grandma. She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Goldie Laster; four brothers, Julius Lee “Fat”, Albert Ray “Doc”, John and Joseph Harold “Bud” Laster; two sisters, Joan Tinker and Reba McClure; four brothers-in-law, Haskel “Hack”, Delmar “Red”, Charlie and Joseph Martin; two sisters-in-law, Wanda Schroeder and Margie Nagel. She is survived by her husband, Virgil Martin; one son, Kevin and wife Amy Martin; three granddaughters, Emily Michelle, Lindsey Nicole and Mandy Lynn Martin, all of Cedar Hill, Missouri; three sisters, Rosetta Marie Christian of St. Louis, Missouri, Ida Ellen Hunsperger of Warrenton, Missouri and Ruby Wyatt of Troy, Illinois; two sisters-in-law, Emma Jean Carter of Steelville, Missouri and Billie Jean and husband Jim Chapman of Cuba, Missouri; other relatives and  friends. Visitation was held on Friday, June 29, 2012 from 5-8 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church in Catawissa, Missouri. Funeral service was held on Saturday, June 30, 2012 at 10 a.m. at Grace Baptist Church with Pastor Matt Dudley, officiating. Interment followed at the Schwieder Cemetery in Steelville, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Mizell Funeral Home in Cuba, Missouri. Wanda Lee Pankey Wanda Lee Pankey of St. James, Missouri, was born April 8, 1933 at the Stricker Place, near St. James to William M. and Bertha A. Bacon Kolb and passed away Tuesday June 26, 2012 at the Phelps County Regional Medical at the age of 79 years 2 months and 18 days. In 1951, Wanda was united in marriage to Junior G. Pankey. Wanda was a housewife and dedicated herself to taking care of her husband and four children. She loved being outside and working in her garden. She enjoyed volunteering at the school when she was able and many times helped the school nurse with immunization of children. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Bertha Kolb; her husband, Junior Pankey on October 14, 1998 and sister, Lula Crider. She is survived by two sons, Bill Pankey and wife Cheryl of Edgar Springs, Missouri and Bob Pankey of St James, Missouri; two daughters, Betty Jones and husband Melvin of St James, Missouri and Beth Maxwell of Rolla, Missouri; three sisters, Anna Mae Webster, Carmal  Nappier and Bonnie Hahn, all of St. James, Missouri; brother-in-law, Chester Crider of St. James, Missouri; nine grandchildren; other relatives and friends. Visitation Thursday June 28, 2012 from 6-8 p.m. at the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri. Funeral service was conducted 11 a.m. on Friday, June 29, 2012 at the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri with Jamie Jones officiating. Burial was in the family plot at the Pine Hill Cemetery near St. James, Missouri. Pallbearers were Brian Pankey, Marty Maxwell, Matt Maxwell, Bobbie Jo Saunders, Ron Nappier and Roger Nappier. Arrangements under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri. Winford D. “Winnie” Politte Winford D. “Winnie” Politte, of Sullivan, Missouri was born on July 9, 1930 at Sullivan, Missouri to Abraham and Mary Olivia (Littrell) Politte and passed away on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at the age of 81 years. Winnie, as he was known by his family and friends, He was a life-long resident of the Sullivan area and on November 12, 1949 was united in marriage to Shirley Jean Turnbull at Sullivan and to this union four children were born. Winnie was employed for a time with the former Ramsey Corporation as a machine operator and later became an equipment operator for the IBEW Local 2 in St. Louis from which he retired in 1991.  He was proud of his hometown and was active in public service. He was Alderman of Ward 1 from 1982-1986 and then again from 1989-1992. Winnie successfully ran for Mayor of Sullivan in 1995 and served a term on the Sullivan Planning and Zoning Commission from 1999-2003.  He enjoyed fishing and hunting and especially vegetable gardening.  He and Shirley Jean would annually put out over 100 tomato plants as well as other vegetables.  Winnie also enjoyed debating – about anything - and loved making deals and trades.  He was a member and Past President of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 3781, the men’s auxiliary of the Sullivan VFW and Sullivan Lodge #69 AF&AM. He was preceded in death by his parents, Abraham and Mary Politte; son, Vernon; five brothers; Albert, Clarence, James, Chester and Lester Politte; and by two sisters, Pearl Woodcock and Louise Cross. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Jean of the family home; one son, Russell Politte and wife Beth of Pacific, Missouri; two daughters, Olivia Abney and husband Rich of Bourbon, Missouri and Laverne Martin and husband John of Sullivan; one sister, Mildred Miller of St. Clair, Missouri; nine grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday at the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, Missouri. Fraternal Order of Eagles services were conducted at 7 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home under the auspices of Aerie No. 3781 of Sullivan, Missouri. Funeral services were conducted 10 a.m. on Friday, June 29, 2012 from the Chapel of the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, Missouri with interment in Odd Fellows Memorial Cemetery, Sullivan, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Eaton Funeral Home, Sullivan, 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