Virginia Mae (Pierson) Folkerts, 104, of Mt. Olive, died peacefully on Friday, Oct. 17, at Gillespie Health and Rehab Center in Gillespie.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Zion Lutheran Church in Mt. Olive, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. A service officiated by Pastor Zack Krampien will begin at 12 p.m. Interment will be in Mt. Olive City Cemetery. Becker and Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Folkerts was born on Aug. 8, 1921, in Peoria, the daughter of Howard and Emma (Kiel) Pierson. She graduated early from East Peoria High School at the age of 16. She married Arthur Thomas Folkerts of Mt. Olive on Feb. 20, 1938, in St. Louis, MO, and he preceded her in death on May 25, 1977. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Mt. Olive.
She loved spending time with her family and friends, attending church, bird watching, taking care of her flower gardens, baking, traveling, fishing and motorcyle riding with her husband and playing bingo. Together with her husband, Art, she owned and operated the Folkerts Grocery Store and Route 66 Terminal Cafe. In her later years, she enjoyed being an usher with her daughter, Yvonne, at the Fox Theater in St. Louis. She also proudly organized the funeral luncheons at Zion Lutheran Church for many years.
She will be most remembered by her kindness, caring attitude, willingness to help others, generosity and love for her family.
Mrs. Folkerts is survived by her daughters, Yvonne Becker of Memphis, TN, and Lynne (Tom) Sherman of Gillespie; sister, Valerie Philipson of Peoria; grandchildren, Jeff Becker of Fort Smith, AR; Janet (Fred) Geyer of Memphis, TN, John Becker of Belleville, Keith (Tina) Marburger of Litchfield and Kelly (Clay)Titsworth of Litchfield; six great-grandchildren, Chris (Lauren) Geyer; Allison (John) Dowlen, Philip (Stafani) Geyer; Chad (Meagan) Marburger; Haley (Eric) Sadovsky and Emily (boyfriend, Lee Morrison) Titsworth; and great-great-grandchildren, Jack and James Geyer, Walker, Hugh and Hattie Dowlen, Esther and Kai Lin Geyer, Maddy McCuin, Hazel and Lucy Marburger and Norah Sadovsky.
In addition to her spouse, she was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Emma; brother, Wayne; sister, Shirley; son-in-law, Al; and several brothers- and sisters-in-law.
Memorials may be made to Zion Lutheran Church, Mt. Olive Cemetery or the Mt. Olive Academic Foundation.
