Bettie J. Speer, 95 of Aledo, died peacefully, Saturday, September 19, 2026, at Mercer Manor, Aledo. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Friday, September 25, at Speer Funeral Home, Aledo, with visitation 2 hours prior, beginning at 9 a.m. Private family burial will be in Aledo Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Mercer County Historical Society, where Bettie spent countless hours researching. In honor of Bettie’s love for sports, the family asks that you wear your favorite sports team shirt to the services.
Bettie Joan Fuller was born on July 27, 1931, in Eliza, Illinois, to Ray and Daisy (Huttenstein) Fuller. She was raised by her aunt and uncle, Glenn and Florence (Huttenstein) Greer in New Boston. She was a graduate of New Boston High School. Bettie and Walter Stanley Speer were married on December 24, 1950, at the New Boston United Methodist Church. Together Stanley and Bettie farmed their entire married life in Ohio Grove Township, the Sunbeam area. They attended Sunbeam United Presbyterian Church where Bettie was active in Women’s groups and teaching Sunday School. Stanley preceded Bettie in death on March 29, 2012.
Bettie was a true homemaker. You made your bed every morning and kept a perfect house. If she had guests coming, you didn’t dare touch anything. She often hosted the meetings for the Daughter’s of the American Revolution, William Dennison Chapter. She devoted countless hours to the chapter, serving as regent many times. History was very influential in Bettie’s life. She used it for many programs and often did genealogical research for others. She was proud of the fact that her family could be traced back to the Mayflower. One of her favorite subjects to study was Abraham Lincoln and his family.
After retiring from farm life, Bettie enjoyed tending her yard and planting flowers—never according to a plan, but wherever she pleased. Much of her free time was spent following her granddaughters to their sporting events and band performances and when they visited her home and did not do as she asked, the flyswatter made an appearance!
When she was not cheering them on in person, Bettie could be found at home watching nearly any Illinois team on television. She was a devoted fan of the Cubs, Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, and Fighting Illini, and she never missed a Green Dragon or Golden Eagle football broadcast on WRMJ.
Bettie is survived by her children, Sarah Speer, Jeffrey Speer, and Doyle and Annette Speer; grandchildren, Jenna and Zane Sackville, Tori and Sam Bautz, Abbie and Steve Brock, and Ashley and Paul James; and great-grandchildren, Josh, Jaxson, and Carleigh Brock. Bettie was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and siblings, Laddie, Virgil, Billie, and Delven Fuller and Robert Greer.