Billie Hansberger

Alice "Billie" Pauline Hansberger, 97, of Cape Girardeau passed away Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017, at The Lutheran Home, where she had resided for 12 years.

She was born Oct. 17, 1920, in Oblong, Illinois, to Ted and Clara Lavena Connett Grant. The couple had two daughters and expected a boy, so she was nicknamed "Billie."

Billie and her three sisters formed a quartet that performed in eastern Illinois. She continued singing most of her life in choirs and stage productions. She taught for over 20 years in public schools, first in elementary grades and later home economics.

Billie and her future husband, Lawrence Eugene "Hans" Hansberger, eloped to St. Charles, Missouri, in November 1942, a month before Hans left for military service. He passed away Nov. 17, 2005, after 63 years of marriage and the raising of three children.

As her family grew, Billie made her daughters' clothes, taught her children to sew and to cook, and was active in the United Methodist Church as a choir member, festival organizer, Methodist Youth Fellowship leader and trustee.

She led Girl Scouts, bowled, played golf, knitted and crocheted, and took the family on yearly vacations. Once retired, she took up quilting and made over 100 pieced quilts, most quilted by hand. She and Hans traveled widely in the U.S. and were glad to spend winters in Florida near Hans' oldest child and his family.

In 2005, Billie and Hans moved to Saxony Village in Cape Girardeau from their longtime home in Cuba, Illinois. Billie continued at The Lutheran Home after Hans' death.

Loving survivors include an older sister, Geneva McGannon of Columbus, Ohio; a stepson, Dennis (Connie) Moulton of Sarasota, Florida; son, Ted Hansberger of Hood River, Oregon; daughters, Jane (James) Clayberg of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and Ida (Bruce) Domazlicky of Cape Girardeau; as well as nine grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren; and nine nieces and nephews. She will be missed.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Lawrence; two sisters; and a brother.

Services will be held at a later date

Interment was in Lorimier Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to The Lutheran Home Hospice Program or The Discovery Playhouse.

Online condolence messages may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.

Local arrangements were by McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.