LeeRoy Behymer

Orville LeeRoy Behymer, age 90, of Mt. Sterling, Illinois, went to be with his heavenly father at 5:25 a.m. Friday, July 26, 2019 at Culbertson Memorial Hospital in Rushville, Illinois.

LeeRoy was born in Brown County on November 3, 1928, a son of Orville and Eva M. Dunmire Behymer.  He married Wilma Jean Ward on November 14, 1948 in the Hersman Presbyterian Church and she preceded him in death on December 13, 2018. 

LeeRoy attended schools in Brown County and graduated from Mt. Sterling High School in 1946.  He followed this by a lifetime of grain farming and raising livestock.  In 1990, he won first place in the national soft red winter wheat contest sponsored by the wheat grower’s association.  He won second place in the no-till division of national corn growers association contest in 1994.  LeeRoy was an active member of the Hersman Presbyterian Church, serving as a trustee, elder, Sunday School superintendent and teacher, followed by being an active member of the Presbyterian Church of Christ in Mt. Sterling.  He was also a member of the Hardin Lodge #44 A.F. & A.M.   

He enjoyed working and keeping busy, serving terms on the township board, Farm Bureau board, school board and golf board.  LeeRoy was also active in sports until late in life, playing softball, basketball, bowling and golf.  Western square dancing and card playing were also enjoyable pastimes.  Family fishing vacation trips are fondly remembered.  Many special memories are of time spent with children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

LeeRoy will be missed by his four children, Janice (Gary) Westberg of Cairo, Georgia, David (Martha) Behymer of Rushville, Illinois, Charlotte (Deacon Paul) Koch of Mt. Sterling, Illinois, Sue (Paul) Henry of Bowen, Illinois, a daughter-in-law Tammy Behymer of Mt. Sterling, Illinois as well as fourteen grandchildren and twenty-six great grandchildren.  LeeRoy was the oldest of eight children.  He is survived by two brothers Don (Sue) Behymer of Chatham, Illinois, Steve (Michelle) Behymer of Mt. Sterling, Illinois and two sisters Gloria Fry of Mt. Sterling, Illinois and Carol Steinberg of Jacksonville, Illinois.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one son Terry Behymer and three brothers, Lozelle, Richard and Gordon Behymer. 

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 30, 2019 in the Hendricker Funeral Home in Mt. Sterling with Rev. Richard Young and Deacon Paul Koch officiating. 

Burial will follow in the Hersman Cemetery in Hersman, Illinois.

Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Monday evening at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the Hersman Cemetery Association or the Presbyterian Church of Christ.

Condolences for the family may be left on line at www.hendrickerfuneralhome.com.

The Hendricker Funeral Home in Mt. Sterling is in charge of the arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of LeeRoy Behymer, please visit our floral store.