Betty J. Hebenstriet

Betty J. Walker Hebenstriet, 85, of Galesburg, died at 10:03 p.m. Sunday, June 2, 2013 at Seminary Manor. She was born January 28, 1928 in Radley, Kansas, the daughter of Clarence W. and Rena A. (Castelli) Walker. She married Louis E. Hebenstriet on November 29, 1947 at the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Weyerhaeuser, Wisconsin. Surviving are her husband Louis of Galesburg and four children; Deborah (husband, Raymond James) Nelson of WeeMaTuk, Bonnie (husband, Edwin) Woods of Mackinaw, Jill (husband, Paul J.) Marasa of Galesburg, David Hebenstriet of Mackinaw, ten grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and three great great grandchildren; and one sister Cheryll Walker of St. Louis Park, Minnesota. She was preceded in death by her mother, father, and one brother, Robert Walker. A member of the Illinois Nurse’s Association, she received her Associates Degree in nursing from Carl Sandburg College, and was employed by the Galesburg State Research Hospital as a Surgical Technician; Cottage Hospital as a Registered Nurse; Galesburg Visiting Nurses Association as an RN; and for the Illinois Department of Public Health, first as RN Field Supervisor, then as RN Regional Supervisor, responsible for the supervision of twenty-four counties in Illinois. She retired in 2001. She was a parishioner of Corpus Christi Catholic Church and a member of its choir. She was also a member of the Altar and Rosary Society. She loved gardening and tending to her flowers. She was always fond of her pets and loved her family. A funeral mass is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Monday, June 10, 2013 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Reverend William T. Miller, IC officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 4:00 to 5:45 p.m. Sunday, June 9, 2013 at Watson-Thomas Funeral Home. The Rosary will be prayed at 5:45 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Knox County Humane Society, Corpus Christi Catholic Church, or Costa Catholic Academy.