Nancy Lee Bettner

Nancy “Angel” Lee Bettner, 82, of Scarboro, passed away on Sunday, May 8, 2022, at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva. She was born December 14, 1939, in Battle Creek, MI, to Leo and Ardis (Root) Gillespie. She married her adoring partner and equal, William “Bill” J. Bettner on November 18, 1989, in Cleburne County, AR.

Nancy graduated from Dowagiac High School in Michigan and worked as a candy striper before spending many years as a dedicated homemaker. While raising her children in Evergreen Park, she was an active member of the community and several organizations. These included the PTA for which she was President, the Order of the Eastern Star, as well as the First United Methodist Church and its choir. Locally, Nancy was best known as the owner of the restaurant and bar, Angel’s Truck Stop, which shared her nickname.

Throughout her lifetime, she was a caring and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who was well known for her love of sweets, fondness of the color purple, and voraciousness for completing jigsaw puzzles. She was also an avid crime novel reader, but above all, she cherished spending time with family.

Nancy is survived by four children, Dana LaTour of Rochelle, Darcy Howe of Rochelle, Jerald (Juanita) Schaaf of Chicago Ridge, and Barbara (Randy) White of Scarboro; stepdaughter, Bobbi Morgan of Ashton; seven grandchildren, Christopher (Morgan) Howe of Rochelle, Jacqueline (Kyle) Nass of Naperville, Amanda (Sean) Goodpaster of Rochelle, Joshua (Amy) White of Ashton, Harmony (Philip) Hilliker of Rochelle, Breanna Schaaf of El Mirage, AZ, and Justin Schaaf of Vine Grove, KY; two step-granddaughters, Rebecca Soltas of Franklin Park and Nicole (Kenneth) Koeppen of Sugar Grove; several great-grandchildren; three sisters, Thelma Smith of Heber Springs, AR, Betty Speck of Elkhart, IN, and Sandra (Harvey) Adcock of Heber Springs, AR; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; youngest son, John Schaaf; son-in-law, George Howe; sister, Lois Speck; and three brothers-in-law, Harold Smith, Frank Speck, and Samuel Speck.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Torman Funeral Home in Paw Paw. Interment with Pastor Ken Foster officiating will immediately follow at Wyoming Township Cemetery also in Paw Paw. In lieu of flowers or memorials, contributions in Nancy’s memory may be directed to the Cancer Research Institute. Please visit www.TormanFuneralHome.com to sign the online guest book.