Della Elizabeth Pontious

Della Elizabeth Pontious, age 91, of St. Peter, Illinois passed away peacefully at 3:47 a.m. on Friday, September 3, 2021 at Lutheran Care Center in Altamont, Illinois.

Graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 6, 2021 at Old Loogootee Cemetery in rural St. Peter, Illinois with Jim Zeigler officiating.   Memorials may go to the Macedonia Christian Church, Old Loogootee Cemetery, Fayette County 4-H, Effingham County 4-H or the donor’s choice. 

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Della was born on January 14, 1930 in Bible Grove, Illinois, the daughter of Burnie and Lillie L. (Specht) Brooks.  She was a retired schoolteacher, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education; she earned a Home Economics Major and English Minor from Southern Illinois, Carbondale in 1952 and Master’s Degree of Education from Eastern Illinois University in 1974.  She taught high school Home Economics in Farina, Brownstown, and Mulberry Grove, and spent many years as a third-grade teacher in St. Elmo, Illinois.  Her career spanned from 1954 through 1994, teaching for 40 years.

Della married Myron D. Pontious on July 27, 1952 in rural Bible Grove and celebrated 61 years of marriage.  In addition to being a wife, a mother, and a teacher, she actively helped with the operation of the farm for many years.  She was a member of the Macedonia Christian Church, a former Sunday School teacher, a former 4-H leader, the Fayette County Ladies Home Bureau, and a member of the St. Peter American Legion Ladies Auxiliary.  She had many hobbies and interests.  She loved to play the piano and organ at church. For pleasure, she camped and rode horses over many Southern Illinois trails, and expressed her artistic talents through oil painting and entering some canvases in regional art exhibitions.  Della loved to travel, visiting all 50 states in North America, the Caribbean, and European countries.

Della is survived by her one son, Brent Pontious (wife Deborah) of rural St. Peter, Illinois; two daughters, Mitzi Schwertfeger of Plymouth, Wisconsin, Michele Perkins (husband Keith) of Effingham, Illinois; sister-in-law, Joyce Brooks of  Bible Grove, Illinois; six grandchildren, Alex Pontious (wife Stacy) of Columbia, Illinois, Adam Pontious (wife Julie) of Franksville, Wisconsin, Alexandria Pontious of St. Peter, Illinois, Josh Perkins (wife Emily) of Effingham, Illinois, Kimberly Perkins of Effingham, Illinois, Lee Schwab of Des Moines, Iowa; and four great-grandchildren, Aiden Pontious, Owen Pontious, Madison Pontious and Dawson Perkins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Myron Pontious; brothers, James Brooks and Jeff Brooks; and son-in-law, Carl Schwertfeger.

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