Betty Jean Leonard

Betty Jean Leonard, age 90, of Lanark, Illinois, passed away peacefully on October 1, 2025. She was born on July 21, 1935, in Bloomington, Illinois, to Glenn and Pearl Wright.

Betty was the proud matriarch of a large and loving family. She was the devoted mother of eight children, grandmother to seventeen, great-grandmother to thirty-two, and great-great-grandmother to four. Her life was a testament to strength, compassion, and unwavering dedication to those she loved.  Five of her children came from her first marriage, and then on November 6, 1976 she married Harold LaVern Leonard, bringing her total number of children to eight.

She will be remembered for her warm heart, gentle spirit, and the joy she brought to every gathering. Her legacy lives on in the generations to come. Betty found joy in fishing, camping, reading Western Romances, going to the races, and sitting around the table for family games—simple pleasures that brought her closer to the people she loved.

She is survived by her husband, Harold; her children: Loretta (Wayne) Erickson, Lorraine (Dan Griffin) Speer, Rose (John) Garland, Howard (Nancy) Emery, and Carolyn Miller, Charles (Vicki) Leonard, Virginia (Kyle) Miller, Harold (Marsha) Leonard Jr. ; grandchildren: Victoria (Eric) Laporte, Veronica (Christopher) Cole, Robert (Laura) Speer, Raymond (Jennifer) Speer, Rebecca (Justin) Storjohann, Travis (Monica) Garland, Howard (Dawn) Emery II, Amanda (Maks) Derylo, Troy (Ashley) Miller Jr., Shanna (Martin Griffin) Miller, Tiana (Donald) Kingery, Shane Gilday, Abbey (Wayne) Golberg, Nicole (Blake) Haller, Holly (Brady Taylor) Morgan, Jamie (Micah) Spivey, and Cori Leonard; great-grandchildren: Madelyn Laporte, Gavin Laporte, Rosabella Cole, Gwendalyn Cole, Rowland Cole, Shannon (Ryan) Randecker, Kortney (John) Torres, Jacob (Sydney) Speer, TJ (Rachael) Stodden, Sarah (Wesley) Poupard, Abbygale (Dylan) Speer, Clayton Storjohann, Bradley Storjohann, Kaden Storjohann, Natalie Emery, Bobby Emery, Matilda Emery, Olivia Derylo, Sabine Derylo, Scout Miller, Sawyer Miller, Sterling Miller, Kyra Griffin, Valerie Griffin, Jace Austin, Kasiah Kingery, Zyler Kingery, Niah Gilday, Aurora Golberg, Luna Golberg, Penelope Haller, and Scarlett Taylor; and great-great-grandchildren: four beloved little ones who brought her endless joy in her final years.

Each generation held a special place in Betty’s heart. She delighted in watching her family grow, celebrating every milestone, and sharing stories that connected the past to the present. Her love was a constant thread that wove through the lives of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-greatgrandchildren, creating a legacy of warmth, laughter, and togetherness.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Glenn & Pearl Wright, Her siblings 3 sisters & 2 Brothers, And her Beloved Mother In-Law, Margaret Haderly.

A memorial visitation will be held on October 11th, 2025 at Law Jones Funeral Home in Lanark IL, from 11 am - 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Law Jones Funeral Home.

Her memory will forever be cherished by her family and all who had the privilege of knowing her.