Beatrice Welker

SCOPUS, Mo. -- Beatrice N. Welker, 74, of East Alton, Ill., died Tuesday, May 14, 2002, at Rosewood Care Center in Edwardsville, Ill.

She was born Oct. 20, 1927, at Scopus, daughter of Dillon and Nellie Conder Brown. She and Leslie L. Welker were married March 15, 1946, in Cape Girardeau.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Debbie Welker of Wood River, Ill.; a daughter and son-in-law, Leslie and Dana Rigsbey of Wood River; a brother, Paul Brown of Jackson, Mo.; six sisters, Essie Abernathy, Jessie Quade, Lillian Hahn, Oleta Yamnitz, Idel Dockins, all of Jackson, Orpha Marshall of Eureka, Mo.; a grandson, David Lee Rigsbey; and a stepgranddaughter, Kristy Ann Brodbeck.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a granddaughter, Lori K. Rigsbey; four brothers, Oval, Shelby, Hobert and William Brown; two sisters, Opal Hahn and DaVerne Reitzel; and three infant siblings.

Friends may call at Marks Mortuary in Wood River from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. today.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the mortuary, with the Rev. Keith Seaman officiating. Burial will be in Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto, Ill.

Memorials may be sent to Calvary Baptist Church of Edwardsville Building Fund, where she had been a member.