Betty R. Thurnau, nee Nelson, 85, of St. Jacob, Ill., born June 16, 1929, in Chillicothe, Ohio, died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, at Highland Health Care in Highland, Ill.

Betty worked for the Bank of Edwardsville and loved being a farmers wife for over 58 years. She loved collecting her dolls and Precious Moments. She also loved baking, cooking and shopping. Betty was also a notary public for many years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Romy A. and Della, nee Farmer, Nelson; brothers, Andrew and Edward Nelson; and in-laws, Harold (Laurine) Thurnau, Lyla Gerstenecker, Jeanette (Louis) Taylor, Delmar Nungesser and Hank Pirok.

Surviving are her husband, Warren V. Thurnau of St. Jacob, Ill., whom she married on April 7, 1956, at the First Baptist Church of Edwardsville; brother, Harold "H" (Donna) Nelson of Holiday Shores, Ill.; sister, Ruth (Ray) Eyman of Edwardsville, Ill.; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Olive Nungesser of Alhambra, Ill., Eleanor Pirok of Highland, Ill., Clifford (Betty) Thurnau of Edwardsville, Ill., Joan (George) Willaredt of Edwardsville, Ill., Robert (Dorothy) Thurnau of Trenton, Ill., and Dale Gerstenecker of Belleville, Ill.; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.Richesonfh.com

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, 2014, and 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, at Richeson Funeral Home, Troy, Ill.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, at the funeral home with Rev. Charles West officiating. Burial will be in Valley View Cemetery in Edwardsville, Ill.

RICHESON FUNERAL HOME, Troy, Ill.