Erma VonBehren, 94, formerly of Minonk, passed away Wednesday (April 18, 2007) at The Tillers in Oswego.

She was born Feb. 7, 1913, in Aurora. She was the daughter of Charles and Nancy Strain Swanee.

Erma graduated from East Aurora High School. She attended Aurora College for two years and completed a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's degree in reading at Illinois State University.

She was united in marriage to Raymond vonBehren on April 12, 1934. They were married for 55 years, until his passing May 7, 1989. They spent most of their married years on a farm west of Minonk.

Erma began her teaching career in 1956. She taught elementary school in El Paso and Minonk. She completed her 25 years of teaching as the reading specialist for the Roanoke School District. Teaching children to read and assisting other teachers in teaching children to read was her passion. She was often called upon to present her methods at reading conferences all over the United States.

Upon her retirement, she organized the first free immunization clinic for children in Woodford County, for which she was honored by the State of Illinois Department of Health.

Survivors include her daughter, Connie (Fred) Dickson, Oswego; her son, Kenneth vonBehren, Minonk; her eight grandchildren, Tom Dickson, Earlville; Julie (Jose) Dickson-Gomez, West Hartford, Conn.; Joy (Matt) Rueben, Effingham; Kathy vonBehren, Bloomington; Ruth (Aaron) McCarty, Minonk; Ken vonBehren, Elk Grove Village; and Candice and Jonathon vonBehren, both of Tonica; and her five great-grandchildren, Samuel and Jose Gomez, Isaiah and Arial Rueben and Brianna McCarty.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Raymond vonBehren; and her brother, Amber "Bud" Swanee.

A graveside service for family will be on May 19 in Minonk. Memorials in Erma's name may be directed to the charity of the donor's choice.

McKeown-Dunn Funeral Home Ltd. & Cremation Services, Oswego, is in charge of arrangements.