Dongola postmaster killed in motorcycle accident

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Rebecca Rutherford, who was appointed postmaster of the Dongola post office six months ago, was killed in a motorcycle accident early Friday morning. She was 34.

According to the Illinois State Police, Rutherford was driving a motorcycle west on Front Street when it was struck by a pickup truck driven by Marietta Lingle, 72, of Dongola. The state police are investigating the 7:09 a.m. accident.

Rutherford lived in Cypress, Ill., with her husband, Derek, and their sons, Amos and Thomas.

She had worked for the U.S. Postal Service for several years, part of the time as a temporary worker, according to Larry Lankheit, manager for post office operation for the Gateway District headquartered in DuQuoin, Ill. Besides the postmaster, the Dongola office has a staff of five, including two substitute carriers.

Lankheit said the flag at the Dongola post office will fly at half-staff until the burial.

The funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at the Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna, Ill.