Dolores "Dee" May (Hill) Bennett, 84, of Hillsboro died Wednesday, April 22, 2015, at St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield.
A private graveside service will be held for the family at Wood-Davis Cemetery in Bunker Hill.
Litchfield Family Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Bennett was born in Bunker Hill Township on Feb. 4, 1931, the daughter of Ray Clement and Ida Alice (Wood) Hill. She married Charles Edward Bennett on Nov. 18, 1961, in Edwardsville, and he survives.
She grew up in Mt. Olive and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on May 27, 1960. Thereafter, she was fervent and active in her faith.
Mrs. Bennett loved learning and returned to school in her 60s to complete what she had started many years before. She graduated with an associate's degree in applied science for word/information processing from Lincoln Land Community College on May 17, 1991.
Among her several hobbies, she was an amateur genealogist. She was a patriot and proud of her family heritage. She was descended from the pioneer stock of Bond, Macoupin and Madison counties in Illinois. Her father was a veteran of World War I and she could also name ancestors of the war with Mexico, the Civil War, the War of 1812 and the Revolutionary War. A number of her ancestors were expelled from England for their religious activities, including those who were protagonists for separation from England for over 150 years prior to the Revolution. She could trace one family line back to King Henry II.
Mrs. Bennett's children and grandchildren could often find her solving puzzles, playing cards, winning at Bingo or competing in the Wii bowling championship. She enjoyed spending time writing poetry and song lyrics. She would write poetry and songs for her grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by eight children, James E. (Pam) Bennett and Kenneth W. (Susan) Bennett, both of Carlinville, Nora (Charles) Beadle of Litchfield, DeeDee (Daniel) Forward of Provo, UT, Charles R. Bennett and Mary (Lewis) Harty of Collinsville, Clinton J. Bennett of Glenford, OH, and Bonnie (Adam) Herrera of West Boylston, MA; two sisters, Virginia (Marvin) Birdsell of Jerseyville and Shirley Morgan of Kansas City, MO; 21 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Bennett was preceded in death by a son, Ricky Lee Wheeler; three sisters; and two brothers.
