Betty Jean Knudsen

Betty Jean Knudsen, 73, of Wyanet died at 1:30 a.m. Saturday, May 8, 2010, at Miller Health Care Center in Kankakee. She was born May 4, 1937, in Selby Township, Bureau County, to Wilmer ElRoy and Marcella Agnes (Vowels) Knudsen. She was a 1955 graduate of Wyanet High School. She received her bachelor''s and master''s degree in business education from Illinois State University. She taught business education classes in Annawan High School for 38 years. She was a member of St. Margaret Mary in Wyanet, St. Louis Catholic Church in Princeton and Delta Kappa Gamma. She was the village clerk for Wyanet, member and president of the Wyanet Historical Society, a member of the Wyanet Car Club and was the director for the Wyanet Festival Queen Pageant. Surviving are one sister, Barbara Marie Fletcher of Shelby, N.C.; her best friend, Karl M. Rahr of Sheffield; one sister-in-law, Carol Knudsen of Buda; one brother-in-law, Don Fletcher of Manteno; eight nieces and nephews, Doug (Karen) Fletcher, Chris (Ed) Phillips, Colleen (Todd) Garner, Dan (Karissa) Fletcher, Jody (Jeff) Jones, Jodi Roggy, Deborah Reinbeck and Robert Knudsen; and 16 great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, John F. Knudsen. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the St. Louis Catholic Church, Princeton, with Father Jeffrey Stirniman officiating. Burial will be in Elm Lawn Memorial Park, Princeton. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Grant-Johnson Funeral Home, Princeton, with a rosary service at 7 p.m. Memorials may be directed to Masses, the donor''s choice or the Wyanet Rescue Squad. Pallbearers: Karl M. Rahr, Doug Fletcher, Dan Fletcher, Ed Phillips, Todd Garner and Robert Knudsen.