Beverly Jean Compton nee Hilgert

May 20, 1948 - March 23, 2026

Beverly Jean (Hilgert) Compton passed away on March 23, 2026, in St. Louis, Missouri. She was born on May 20, 1948, in Kankakee, Illinois, to Harold Russell and Bennie Lou Hilgert. She is survived by her son, Jeffrey Compton; her daughter, Sheila Ellebracht; her grandchildren, Grant and Stefania; her sisters-in-law Debbie Hilgert and Lynn (Compton) Williams; her brother-in-law Bill Compton; and her nephew Tyler Hilgert and nieces Brittany (Hilgert) Duncan, Amy Williams, and Becky (Williams) Johnston. She was preceded in death by her brother Mark, her sister Pam, and her beloved husband Dan.

Bev and her two siblings grew up in the town of Grant Park, Illinois, where her father served as Mayor for more than 20 years. She was active in school and community life as a cheerleader, a class officer, and a member of the band, chorus, school newspaper, Spanish Club, Math Club, and National Honor Society.

Bev graduated at the top of her high school class and was accepted into the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. It was there that she met the love of her life, Dan, with whom she forged a nearly 60-year partnership.

Dan finished university first, and the young couple moved to Milwaukee, where their son was born. They soon moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, and then to Birmingham, Alabama, where their daughter was born, and where Bev managed to complete her degree while raising two small children. Back on the move, the family moved back to Knoxville, and finally on to Charlotte, North Carolina, where their kids completed high school and went off to college.

Bev’s family life kept her busy. She supported and shuttled her children through school, music lessons, various sports teams, camps, horseback riding lessons, and many more activities and adventures. She also found time to participate in a variety of church, school, and community causes, and to work several jobs.

Pets, especially dogs, were a cherished part of Bev's life. Throughout the years she had several beloved dogs, as well as a couple of birds and some goldfish.

After retiring, Bev and Dan, along with dogs Abby and Zoe, joined their daughter in the St. Louis area, where Bev lovingly cared for Dan while he endured – and ultimately succumbed to – Parkinson’s disease.

An event celebrating Bev’s life will be held near Kankakee, Illinois on May 17, 2026.

Donations in Bev’s memory can be made to your local hospice care provider.