Elizabeth "Betsy" Mendenhall

Elizabeth “Betsy” Mendenhall, age 66, of Thomson, Illinois died on Friday, February 23, 2018 at her home. Cremation Rites have been accorded. A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at Majestic Pines, 11503 Three Mile Road in Thomson. A private burial of her cremated remains will take place at a later date in Lower York Cemetery, Thomson. In lieu of flowers, a scholarship memorial fund will be established in her memory.

Betsy was born on April 2, 1951, the daughter of Edwin and Verdell (Larson) Herrick in Rockford, Illinois. She attended Durand High School and graduated with the Class of 1969. Betsy later graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Liberal Arts (biology/chemistry) from the University of Illinois in 1973. She married Erryl Mendenhall on January 30, 1971 in Durand, Illinois.

Betsy was a Bookkeeper for twenty years for the Thomson School District, retiring in 2005. In the past, Betsy has served as a Village Trustee, Fire District Trustee, Village Clerk, and as an E.M.T. with the Thomson Fire District. She was always willing to help others and believed in helping to provide an education to our youth. In the past, Betsy sponsored several young women that lived in Mexico so they would have the opportunity to complete and graduate High School. She also served as a Class Sponsor for Thomson High School Students. Betsy enjoyed traveling around the world, but she especially enjoyed wintering in Texas with her husband, Erryl. In her spare time, Betsy enjoyed watching her grandkids play sports, shopping, and reading. Most of all, Betsy treasured her family and cherished every opportunity to spend time with her grandchildren.

Betsy will be dearly missed by her husband, Erryl of Thomson; one daughter, Shauna (Jake) Bellich of Thomson; one nephew, Nathan (Rosanna) Galbreath of Fayetteville, North Carolina; three grandchildren, Kyla, Jack, and Samuel; and one sister, Kris (David) Alford of Colorado Springs, Colorado. She is preceded in death by her parents; and one sister, Nancy Galbreath.