Billie Jean Griffiths, 89, Elwood
Billie Jean Griffiths (Benish), 89, passed away peacefully at her home on March 5, 2025.
Billie was born on December 2, 1935, in Sydney, Nebraska, the daughter of William and Vivian Benish.
She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Bill Griffiths, on Christmas Eve 2010. They were happily married for 58 years and are now reunited in heaven. Also preceding her in death is her sister, Geneva Cromwell, and two brothers Kenneth and Don Benish.
She is survived by her four children, Gary (Elaine) Griffiths, Jeff (Kris) Griffiths, Lori (Rex) Steffes, Kristi (Tom) DeJarld; 10 grandchildren, Hillary McCarey, Cliff Steffes, Bret Steffes, Rex Steffes, Faith Matheny, Gracie Griffiths, Hannah Griffiths, Matt DeJarld, Phillip DeJarld, Daniel DeJarld; 13 great-grandchildren, Blake, Morgan and Chase McCarey, Harper & Hayden Matheny, Levi Steffes, Max, Buck and Ellie Steffes, Luke and Billie Steffes, Beckett and Hazel DeJarld; and three great-great grandchildren, Mason, Maverick and Myles Vana.
Billie was raised on a farm in Potter, Nebraska, where she began helping with the responsibilities of farm life at a young age, including driving a grain truck when she was only 12. She also had many fond memories of school dances and being with friends, and of course, meeting her best friend and future husband, Bill Griffiths, when he came to work with her father.
They were married in 1952 and moved to Illinois in 1964 with their 4 children to follow Bill’s employment with the Joliet Army Ammunition plant (APSA). Billie Jean quickly made many lifelong friends and enjoyed being a homemaker for several years, always ready to help anyone who needed her. In later years she was employed by Uniroyal and then Personal Products in Wilmington for 18 years.
Upon her and Bill’s retirement, they enjoyed many years of traveling, camping and finding fun local festivals where they could enjoy music and dancing.
Billie Jean was a faith filled woman who always put others first. She was a kind and loving mother, grandmother, and friend, and she will always be remembered for her beautiful smile and kind words.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to Brown Cemetery (in c/o Joanne Rachke 19508 Noel Road Elwood, 60421) or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (4550 Montgomery Ave., Suite 1100 N. Bethesda, MD 20814).
Visitation for Billie will take place on Friday, March 14, 2025, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Forsythe Gould Funeral Home. Service will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 15, also at the funeral home. Interment at Brown Cemetery, 25257 S. Chicago Road (on Brown Road), Elwood, Illinois, 60421, will immediately follow.
Arrangements entrusted to Forsythe Gould Funeral Home, 507 S. State St., Manhattan, IL 60442, 815-478-3321, www.forsythegouldfh.com.