06/22/1969
Dr. and Mrs. William Fred Betterton of Carbondale, IL and former Knoxville residents died from injuries suffered from an auto accident caused by a tornado near Farmington,
MO. He was an associate professor of music at Southern Illinois University and she
taught in Herrin (Ill.) public schools in the music department.
William "Bill" Fred
Betterton, was born May 31, 1928, in Westmont, Ill., the son of Tom and Mary W. Leair
Betterton.
He attended Knoxville High School graduating with the class of 1946. Bill graduated
from the University of Iowa with a Doctors degree in music after serving in the
military. He served at General McArthur's headquarters in the band. Bill was in
the occupation forces, in Korea a year; all his service was spent in the band.
He was a member of Davenport Consistory of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of
Free Masonry, Kaaba Temple of Davenport.
He is survived by his father, Tom Betterton
of Knoxville and two sisters Mary Lou Betterton of Des Moines and Mrs. Wilma Baukeloo
of Columbus, Ohio.
William Fred Betterton was married to Kathryn Ann Speed, daughter
of M/M William Speed of Knoxville, on June 11, 1955.
Kathryn Ann Speed was born
September 22, 1932 in Des Moines, the daughter of William and Anne McNeish Speed.
She was a graduate of Knoxville high school and Northern Iowa Universtiy and held
a Master's Degree from the University of Iowa.
She is Survived by her parents Mr.
and Rms. William Speed of Knoxville and a brother Robert Speed of Des Moines. They
were members of the Christian Church. She was also a teacher. Bill and Kathryn were
killed in an automobile accident June 22, 1969, near Doe Run, Missouri.
At the time of his death he was an associate professor at the University of Southern
Illinois at Carbondale.