Billie Jane Kovach - Benton, IL Billie Jane Kovach, 83, of Benton, died at 10:32 p. m. Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at Good Samaritan Regional Health Center in Mt. Vernon. Mrs. Kovach was born on November 5, 1929 in Hazel Park, MI the daughter of Talbert Wall and Bonnie (Furlow) Wall. She married William Kovach on December 11, 1948 and he survives. Billie was a telephone operator in Christopher prior to marrying her husband William. After marrying William, she and her husband purchased and operated the Southside Market on South Main Street in Benton for ten years during the 1950s. Soon after they sold the store, they purchased a laundry mat on North Madison Street which became Kovach Koin Laundry, which they operated for about thirty years. Billie enjoyed traveling, fishing, wood carving, painting, and stained glass. She was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Benton and the Road Runners Camping Group in Mt. Vernon, IL. Surviving relatives include her husband, William Kovach, Benton, two sons, Paul William Kovach, Dallas, TX, Glenn Allen Kovach and wife Regenia, Benton, IL, one grandchild, Travis Allen Kovach, Benton, IL, three sisters, Linda Connors and husband Sonny, Grand Prairie, TX, Wanda Kirkpatrick, Christopher, IL, Barbara Gulley and husband Nolen, Valier, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Mrs. Kovach was preceded in death by her parents. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 p. m. Sunday, July 28, 2013 at the Hobbs-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in Benton with a prayer service at 7:30 p. m. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a. m. Monday at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Benton with Father Joseph Trapp officiating. Burial will be in the St. Andrews Catholic Cemetery in Christopher, IL. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Joseph Catholic Church, 506 W. Main, Benton, IL 62812 and will be accepted at the funeral home. Visit www.hobbsjohnson.com to sign the memorial guestbook.