Wilhelmina A. "Billie" Rabe, age 92 of Clarno Township, died Saturday, March 7, 2009 at the Monroe Manor Nursing Home.

Billie was born into a cheese making family on May 24, 1916 in rural Monticello, the daughter of Frederick and Alice (Ingold) Deppeler Sr.

She attended Clarence rural school in Brodhead. Billie was divorced from Raymond Feidler and Glenn H. Moore before marrying Eldon "Mike" Rabe in 1964. They lived on the Rabe farm near Winslow, IL, before moving to Clarno in 1976. Mike and Billie were caretakers of West Clarno Pioneer Cemetery for many years. Following Mike's death on Nov. 29, 1985, Billie continued to mow the lawn at the cemetery until the fall of 2008.

She had also worked as Activity Director at Pleasant View Nursing Home and Assistant Activity Director at the Monroe Manor. She and her husband distributed groceries to Monroe area shut-ins for several years, she was a 4-H leader teaching knitting and crocheting, and was known for her crocheted pins that were given to everyone she met. She was active in the Behring Senior Center where she helped plan the monthly calendar.

She is survived by a daughter, Patricia Rae Adams of Monroe; a son, Charles Allen (Mary Ann) Feidler of Phoenix, AZ; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; and two sisters-in-law, Helen and Marion Deppeler, both of Brodhead.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Jeanette Schmidt; three brothers, Fred, Lloyd, and Albert Deppeler; and a brother and sister in infancy.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 13, 2009, at the NEWCOMER FUNERAL HOME, Monroe, with Rev. Lowell Stuessy officiating. Interment will follow in West Clarno Cemetery. A visitation will be held at the funeral home on Thursday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. A memorial fund will be established in her name.

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