Harvey Monroe Bettis was born in a hillside farmhouse on May 9, 1921, the second child of Geo. Orval and R. Mae (Hays) Bettis near Girard IL. He died, 104 years later, on December 1, 2025, at home on his Carlinville IL farm.

He married Jane Speaks on March 1, 1941, they had 5 children and later divorced. He then married Gladys Bartz Lueke on July 14, 1973 and enjoyed almost 30 years together before her passing in May of 2002. Harvey & Gladys wintered for 27 years in Belle Glade and St. Cloud, FL. He enjoyed sharing his crappie catch each year with family & friends.

After eight years of formal education in various rural one-room schoolhouses, riding horseback or walking to school, he became a full-time farmhand for his dad at the age of twelve. His boyhood dream was to ride his horse to Montana to become a cowboy, but his dad made a farmer out of him and Harvey never regretted it. His farming career began with a team of horses and ended with John Deere tractors and a self-propelled combine. He retired in 1996 when his corn yielded 202 bushels per acre, turning the job over to his neighbors, the Boehm brothers. He delighted in the relationship he had with them over his remaining years.

Harvey was always looking for ways to improve farming methods, particularly soil conservation. He could see his top soil eroding into the creeks with the accepted practice of moldboard plowing. He improvised his version of a chisel plow that left his fields topped with haphazard stalks. Despite the messy look, over time, his neighbors took up the practice as well.

Surviving are 5 children: Nancy (Jim) Schien of Carlinville, James Bettis of Morton, Dianna Carothers of Peoria, Ken (Dotti) Bettis of Galesburg, and Jack (Lori) Bettis of White Hall; 4 step-daughters: Betty West, Bonnie Koehler, Jean Schuetze and Carol Lee. 10 grandchildren: Barbara (Frank) Dugger, Steve (Hope) Schien, Debbie Bettis, Martin (Raiza) Bettis, Tony (Heather) Grichnik, Mike (Laura) Grichnik, Shayna (James) Davis, Rachel (Jill) Bettis Hurley, Jonathan (Riley) Bettis, Kristofer (Lindsay) Bettis; 17 great-grandchildren: Jason (Kyle) Rosentreter, Christie (Regan) Joehl, Stephanie (Andrew) Webb, Maggie (Curtis) Headrick, Sydney Schien, Matthew Hirschi, Madison Azevedo, Alexandra & Makaela Bettis, Andy (Lacy) Grichnik, Pete Grichnik, Elizabeth (Noah) Novak, Rebecca & Stephen Grichnik, Nolan & Jacob Davis and Harvey J.O. Bettis; 16 great-great-grandchildren: Nathan, Caleb, Jeremiah, Ryan, Jackson & Mary Joehl, Madeline, Cannon, Kiersten, Oliver & Noah Webb, Nora, Emmalyn, Silas, Callie & Sophie Headrick and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death: his parents, wife Gladys Bettis; good friend, Thelma Hankins; daughter-in-law Joy Bettis; granddaughter, Jennifer Handy; brothers: Roy (Belle) Bettis; Roscoe (Joyce) Bettis; and sisters: Helen (John) Edwards; Ettie Rae (Leroy) Dibler; Iva (Don) Simpson.

Visitation will be Thursday, December 11, 2025, 4-7 p.m., Carlinville United Methodist Church. Funeral on Friday, December 12, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at the church.

Internment in Union Chapel Cemetery, Girard IL

Suggested Memorials: Union Chapel Cemetery, 15331 Hays Road, Girard, IL 62640 or IVEDC Senior Nutrition Center, PO Box 431, Jerseyville, IL 62052

Davis Anderson Funeral Homes, Carlinville, is assisting the family with arrangements.