Martha Lu (Berg) Pankey, age 85 of St. Elmo, Illinois passed away at 9:04 a.m. Saturday, May 30, 2015 at St. Anthony Memorial Hospital in Effingham, Illinois.

Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at C & A Pagel Funeral Home in St. Elmo, Illinois with one hour viewing prior to service. Burial will be at the Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery of rural Altamont, Illinois. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at C & A Pagel Funeral Home in St. Elmo, Illinois. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Association or donor's choice.

Martha was born on September 22, 1929 at Crescent, Oklahoma, the daughter of Lester and Helen (Vick) Fleming. She married William F. Berg on July 10, 1948, who preceded her in death on July 19, 1970. She then married John Pankey on April 27, 1985, who preceded her in death on February 8, 2001.  Martha owned and operated Berg Drug Sundries for 9 years and retired in 1985 from the Fayette County Bank after working in the accounting department for several years. She was a former member of the St. Elmo Women's Club and the American Legion Auxiliary. Martha was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church prior to joining St. Paul Lutheran Church in Altamont, Illinois. She enjoyed genealogy, putting puzzles together and also tying quilts at church.

She is survived by her son, Richard Berg (wife Judy) of Crossville, Tenn.; daughter, Kimberly Hammer (husband Douglas) of Altamont, Illinois; sister, Mary Elisabeth Michel (late husband Avon) of Shelbyville, Illinois; brother in law, Raymond Berg ( late wife Marion) of Altamont, Illinois; three sisters-in-law, Lorna Berg of St. Elmo, Illinois, Hilma Berg of St. Elmo, Illinois, and Anna (Berg) Blevins  (late husband Arnold) of Mason City, Illinois;  four grandchildren; Ryan Berg, Danielle Kirgan, Jordan Hammer and Breana Johnson; 3 great grandchildren, Clayton and Tyler Kirgan and Alec Berg; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lester and Helen Fleming; sister, Patricia Davis and her husband, Barney Davis.