Person Page 300

Wilma (Billlie) Ruth Hayden was born on 1 June 1915 in Yorkville, Illinois.^1,2 She and Wilbur O. Strawn were married on 12 April 1936 in Crown Point, Lake, Indiana.³ She died on 8 January 2008, at age 92, in Dekalb, DeKalb, Illinois.²

Wilma (Billlie) Ruth Hayden was educated in Northern Illinois State Teachers College.³ She was in Dekalb Agricultural Association, Inc.³ Wilma R. "Billie" Strawn, 92, of DeKalb, Ill., passed away Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008, at the health care center at Oak Crest DeKalb Area Retirement Center.
Born June 1, 1915, in Yorkville, she was the daughter of William E. Hayden and Florence H. (Smith) Hayden. She was raised in Yorkville, but as an adult she lived in DeKalb and Malta. She was a member of and volunteer organist for 40-plus years at Malta United Methodist Church.
Billie married Wilbur O. Strawn on April 12, 1936, in Crown Point, Ind. They eloped with their best friends, George and Sally Hollenback of Millbrook, Ill. Billie and Wilbur kept their marriage a secret for more than a year because both were students at Northern Illinois State Teachers College and it was not fashionable then for students to be married. They lived in DeKalb until 1947 when they moved to Malta. They returned to DeKalb in 1965.
She was a loving homemaker and also did a little secretarial work before and after they got married, until their first son was born. In fact, she worked in the president's office at Northern Illinois State Teachers College. And the three most important things in her life were family, church and music.
Her whole family wishes to thank everyone at Oak Crest who cared for her as though she were their mother or grandmother.
She is survived by her husband, Wilbur, of DeKalb; four children, George (Candace) Strawn of Vienna, Va., Florence (Paul) Butler of Malta, Hugh (Joyce) Strawn of Mountain Grove, Mo., and Sally Strawn of Wellesley, Mass.; a son-in-law, William R. Britt Jr.; nine grandchildren, Teresa Strawn (Scott) Dyer, Aaron (Donna) Butler, Cheryl Strawn (Roger) Knox, Adrian (Mary Pettey) Butler, Andrew (Ellen) Strawn, Carrie Strawn (Kevin) Tillman, Adam Strawn, Brandon Strawn and Maxwell Strawn "Will" Hoffman; three sisters-in-law, Myrla (Delavergne) Schumacher of Byron, Patty Hayden Kegg of Indiana and Francie Quast-Hayden of Aurora; nine great-grandchildren; and 15 nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her stepmother, Wyota Smith Hayden; a sister, Eloise; three brothers, Duane, Richard and John; two sisters-in-law; three brothers-in-law; a daughter, Susan Britt; twin infant granddaughters, Jennifer and Jessica Strawn; a grandson, William R. Britt III; and three nieces.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at Malta United Methodist Church. The family will be there at 10 a.m. to greet friends.
Memorial contributions can be sent to Malta United Methodist Church in care of Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home or to a charity of the donor's choice, as Mrs. Strawn wanted to contribute to all of them.
Arrangements were entrusted to Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home, 310 Oak St., DeKalb, IL 60115.
To send an online condolence, visit http://www.ronanmoorefinch.com. For information, call 815-758-3841.

Ruth Evangeline Johnson was born on 12 February 1903 in Illinois.^1,2,3 She and Quentin R. Paulson were married about 1927.¹ She died on 25 December 1988, at age 85, in Venice, Sarasota, Florida.^2,3 She was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Barrington, Cook, Illinois.^4,3

Ruth Evangeline Johnson was a School Teacher.⁴

Herbert Owen Neufer was born on 20 September 1903 in Poplar Grove, Boone, Illinois.¹ He and Valeta Lorena Paulson were married on 25 June 1928 in Belvidere, Boone, Illinois.² He died on 11 November 1974, at age 71, in Belvidere, Boone, Illinois. He was buried in Highland Gardens.³³

Herbert Owen Neufer was a Machinist in Sanitary Scale Company- Belvidere, Illinois.³

Cecile Mildred (Tootie) Wenzel was born on 14 October 1915 in Illinois.^1,2,3,4 She and Marvin Alois Paulson were married on 20 August 1940. She died on 3 June 1983, at age 67, in Belvidere, Boone, Illinois.^1,2,4 She was buried in Belvidere Cemetery, Belvidere, Boone, Illinois.⁴

Cecile Mildred (Tootie) Wenzel was a Catalog Department Manager in J.C. Pennys-Belvidere, Illinois.⁵

Muzette Arline Paulson was born on 12 August 1943 in Belvidere, Boone, Illinois.¹ She died on 12 August 1943, at age 0, in Belvidere, Boone, Illinois.¹ She was buried in Belvidere Cemetery, Belvidere, Boone, Illinois.¹

Ardith Aldine Paulson was born on 20 October 1946 in Belvidere, Boone, Illinois.¹ She died on 17 July 1948, at age 1, in Belvidere, Boone, Illinois.¹ She was buried in Belvidere Cemetery, Belvidere, Boone, Illinois.¹

Russell Allen Neufer was born on 8 July 1907 in Belvidere, Boone, Illinois.¹ He and Vernona Alona Paulson were married on 24 February 1934 in Belvidere, Boone, Illinois.¹ He died on 24 August 1996, at age 89, in Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois.^2,1 He was buried in Belvidere Cemetery, Belvidere, Boone, Illinois.¹

Russell Allen Neufer was a Machinist.³

George P. Gray was born on 15 April 1901 in West Virginia.^2,3,1 He and Laura M. Strawn were married on 1 February 1938 in Belvidere, Boone, Illinois.³ He died on 1 June 1978, at age 77, in Belvidere, Boone, Illinois.^2,3 He was buried in Flora Cemetery (Row 28), Flora Township, Boone, Illinois.³