Elizabeth Mueller

1947 - 2015

ELIZABETH 'BETTY' MUELLER, 68 WINNEBAGO - Elizabeth "Betty" Mueller, 68, passed away Thursday, October 1, 2015, in her home in Winnebago. She was born April 15, 1947, to Nathaniel "Bud" and Florence (Steger) Miles in Mt. Carroll, Illinois. She attended Shimer College. She married Eric Mueller on May 2, 1970, in Little Point Sable, Michigan. In the following years, she would give birth to and raise two daughters and serve on the Mt. Carroll School Board and as a Girl Scout Troop Leader in Mt. Carroll and Pecatonica, Illinois. Once both her daughters were in school, Betty returned to college. For several years, she worked full-time and took classes part-time, receiving her Bachelor's cum laude in 1995, from Rockford College. After several years substitute teaching, she began teaching Special Education at Rock Cut Elementary School in Loves Park. Betty excelled at combining innovative teaching techniques, a passion for learning, compassion, and her characteristic sense of humor to help her students succeed. Betty was a friend of Bill W. and never hesitated to share her experiences to benefit others. She was an active gardener, reader, baker, and knitter. When she was diagnosed with lung cancer in the fall of 2013, she faced the challenge with the same strength and courage with which she'd faced previous adversity. She maintained her sense of humor and a dedicated knitting habit until the very end. She is survived by her husband, Eric; daughters, Jenn and Kate; sister, Barb (David) Skean; sisters-in-law, Chris Mueller, Pat Rodee, Pat Pierce and Carole Miles; brother-in-law, Abilmar Infante; mother-in-law, Betty Lee Mueller; and several nieces and nephews. Betty was preceded in death by both parents; father-in-law, Robert "Bob" Mueller; brother, Richard "Dick" Miles; brothers-in-law, David Skean and Gary Mueller; nephew, Michael "Mike" Skean. The family is hosting services in Honquest Family Funeral Home with Crematory, 4311 N. Mulford Road, Loves Park, IL 61111, on Saturday, November 14th. Visitation is from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by a memorial service and memory sharing from noon to 1 p.m. Please come and share your favorite memories of Betty with us. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family and will be split between two of her favorite charities. To share a memory or express condolences, visit honquestfh.com.