The death of Peggy Hering came on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at St. Vincent Hospital in Evansville, Indiana. She had suffered with diabetes and pain in her back, hips, and legs (sciatic nerve) for several years. Her parents had both suffered with diabetes too.
Peggy was born February 18, 1947, at Gibson General Hospital in Princeton, Indiana, the only child born to Herman and Pearl (Higgins) Stevens of West Salem, Illinois. Her grandma, Katherine (Katie) Clemetine Stevens’ birthday was February 19th which they celebrated many of their birthdays together until her death in 1972. In her school days at Lancaster Grade School, she celebrated birthdays with Mary (Guisewite) Harness and Karen (Spurling) Sanders whose birthdays were the day after hers also.
In February of 1981, Wabash County was covered with 6-8 inches of snow. Peggy had a long Friday working at Security Bank and Trust. On her drive home, she wondered how she or if she would be able to et up her driveway as this was her first winter living in the Lick Prairie area. When she got home, her driveway was cleaned out and she had no trouble getting into the garage. Later that evening, she called her folks to see if they knew who had cleaned out the driveway, but they knew nothing about it. The following Wednesday evening, Lindell Hering, a neighbor, called to apologize for cleaning out the driveway without asking, saying that he had forgotten that his sister did not live there any longer. She assured him that it was fine and very much appreciated. Before hanging up the phone, he asked her to go to Vincennes to Sirloin Stockade with him on Sunday and she accepted the invite. From that time on, they had a permanent date each evening, no matter of the time he got in from the field.
On October 16, 1981, since all the crops had been harvested, and the cows had been milked, in Peggy’s front yard, out under the dusk to dawn light at 6:30 a.m., Jim Kerr, Minister of the Lancaster Church of Christ, united Peggy and Lindell Hering in marriage. A reception was held at their home. To this union, together they raised three daughters, Sheila Rae, Krystal Naomi, and Ashley Jade.
Mrs. Hering was baptized around 1956 in the Allendale Gravel Pit, where her father had hauled many a load of gravel to the roads in Road District #2, Wabash County, and placed her membership with the (Frog Eye) Pleasant Grove EUB Church. In later years, she transferred her membership to the Lancaster Church of Christ. After moving to the Lick Prairie area, she attended the Lick Prairie Christian Church.
After graduation at MCHS in 1965, Peggy Stevens Hering, along with her friend and
classmate at Lancaster Grade School and MCHS, Edna Mae Deisher Skidmore, attended Bramwell Business College in Evansville, Indiana. Her business education was her career as her father promised her that every business and individual would need bookkeeping services. Her career started in the fall of 1967 when Gilbert Coleman hired her to work at the Bank of Mt. Carmel. She attended H&R Block schooling with Fernell Alka and they, together, and separately did income taxes for many years. Later she went to work at Security Bank & Trust Co. and took business classes at WVC and the University of Evansville. While raising her family, she was employed in the office at the garment factory in Albion, IL, Wabash County assessor’s office, Denton Drug Store and with Sigler Chiropractic Clinic for Dr. Ronald W. Sigler until his death in 2009. Just a few days before, her mother had passed before the good doctor. At that time, she found herself spending many hours involved with estates. She helped care for her father-in-law until his death in 2009 and then was involved in yet another estate. At this point, she was thankful that she had her business education.
Peggy is survived by her loving, caring and patient, “The Other Half”, husband, Lindell Hering. He was her rock, her all.
Peggy leaves on this good earth her daughters, Sheila Colbert and husband Bill of Albion, IL, Krystal Cox and husband, Don of Boone IA, Ashley Hall, Lick Prairie, grandchildren, Alexandria Milheiser and husband Tony of Bandana KY, Logan Colbert and wife Tammy of West Salem, IL, Lucy Mae Hall, and Ruby Jean Hall of Lick Prairie, Monica Bice and husband Gunner of Iowa; great-grandchildren, Cody and Dillon Weedon of Bandana KY, Kimber and Raelyn Colbert of Olney, IL; Kori Milheiser, Bandana KY, Sophia Bice and Roxie Bice of Iowa; one aunt, Elizabeth Stevens of West Salem, IL.
Peggy was preceded in death by her father and mother, Herman & Pearl Higgins Stevens, whom she missed very much; grandparents, Charles and Ida Higgins, Claude, and Kate Stevens; aunts and uncles, Wilma Higgins, Clarence and Lorene Higgins, Claude Junior Stevens, Edna and Fred Pattillo, Robert Stevens; cousins, Charles Higgins, Ronnie Stevens, John Stevens, Jim Stevens, and Betty Stark Rodgers.
Private Graveside Services will be Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at Lick Prairie Cemetery where Peggy was elected secretary/treasurer in 2002.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at the Lick Prairie Christian Church all are welcome to attend.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Peggy’s memory to the Lick
Prairie Cemetery Association and may be mailed to Keepes Funeral Home, 1500 North Cherry Street, Mount Carmel, IL 62863.
Keepes Funeral Home is serving the family with the arrangements. To view Peggy’s tribute wall, and leave condolences for the Hering family, please visit www.keepesfuneralhome.com
