Eleanor "Betsy" Hempen

January 23, 1935 - September 13, 2020

Eleanor “Betsy” Hempen, nee Fehrmann, 85, of Breese, IL, passed away at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese on Sunday, September 13, 2020 surrounded by her family. She was born January 23, 1935 in Germantown, IL, the daughter of August and Irene (Hilmes) Fehrmann. On August 21, 1956, she married Joseph F. Hempen and he preceded her in death on September 26, 2015. Betsy is survived by her children, Dale (Susie) Hempen of Breese, Curt (Brenda) Hempen of Waterloo, Scott (Jill) Hempen of Columbia, and Sally (Bob) Norrenberns of Albers; eleven grandchildren, Hunter (Amber) Hempen, Forest (Wes) Barnette, Holland (Ethan) Neally, Paris Hempen, Brittany (Chad) Manning, Casey (Deron) Duncan, Blair (Graham) Weber, Sarah (Alex) Dickinson, Zachary (fiancé Alleigh Kruse) Hempen, Jillian (special friend Tyler Joest) and Regan Norrenberns; two step-grandchildren, Scott (special friend Megan Kane) and Brooke Restoff; and four great-grandchildren. Her siblings, Tony (Cheryl) Fehrmann of Breese, Cleo (Jack) Wilken of Bartelso, Thom Fehrmann of Urbana, and Theda Fehrmann (Severin Wellinghoff) of Newburgh, IN; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Willene Fehrmann of Highland, Pat Fehrmann and Grace Fehrmann both of Breese, Frank Peters of Carlyle, Mary Ann Hempen of St. Rose, Andrew Huelsmann of Breese, and Paul Wellinghoff of Alton; she is also survived by many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Jeri Hempen; four sisters, Irene Huelsmann, Frances Peters, Marty Wellinghoff, and Rita Dressel; three brothers, Paul Fehrmann, Cletus Fehrmann, and August Fehrmann; brothers-in-law, Justin Vandeloo, Ken Dressel, Tom Holtgrave, Boyd Hempen, Paul Hempen, Cletus Hempen; and sisters-in-law, Barbara Hempen, Lorraine Hempen and Dorothy Vandeloo. Mrs. Hempen was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to many. She was a member of St. Dominic Parish and Ladies Sodality in Breese. She loved to tell stories about growing up on the family farm outside of Bartelso and working at the shoe factory in Carlyle. After marrying, they lived on the Hempen family farm north of Carlyle and in 1962 they moved to Breese. Betsy worked as a cook at St Dominic’s grade school from 1973 until 1989 when she retired. Betsy was a prolific quilter with over one hundred masterpieces to her name. A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Breese with Rev. Patrick Peter officiating. Burial will follow at St. Dominic/St. Augustine Cemetery in Breese. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to the organization of the donor’s choice and will be received at Nordike Funeral Home.