Betty Louise Thill

Betty Louise (Folkens) Thill, age 83 of Stockton, IL, died Sunday December 18, 2016 in Columbia, MO. She was born April 19, 1933, the daughter of Richard and Pearl Folkens. She was a 1951 graduate of Stockton High School, and later graduated from Olivet Nazarene College. Betty married Marvin Thill on August 12, 1954 in Stockton.

Betty was a lifelong teacher.  As a preschool entrepreneur, she dedicated herself to the care of children.  She taught elementary school and continued to teach piano years after retiring. She was a member of Church of the Brethren congregations in Plattsburg, MO; Adel, IA; Wenatchee, WA; Enders, NE; and Warrensburg, MO. Betty and Marvin returned to the Stockton area in 1998. Betty enjoyed making kites for peace and scones for farmers market. She participated in and directed hand-bell choirs. She volunteered as a daycare worker in disaster relief efforts.

Betty is survived by two daughters, Kristin Thill (Mark McKenzie) of Oregon City, OR and Lisa Thill (Gordon Franck) of Columbia, MO; three sons, Curtis Thill (Yolanda Yoder) of Paoli, IN, Byron Thill of Seattle, WA, and Jeffrey (Karin) Thill of Orlando, FL; two brothers Henry (Juanita) Folkens of San Bernardino, CA and David (Janet) Folkens of DeWitt, MI; six grandchildren, Levi, Jordan, Leah, Audrey, Hannah, and Kristina; and two great-grandchildren, Zia and Juniper.

She is preceded in death by her husband Marvin and her parents.

Family and friends will hold a memorial service for Betty in Stockton, IL on April 22, 2017. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made in Betty’s memory to Heifer International or On Earth Peace. (Make checks payable to: On Earth Peace – PO Box 188 – 500 Main Street – New Windsor, MD 21776. Write Betty Thill in the memo line.)