Services for Ileen DeTienne were held Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Bienhoff Funeral in Laddonia with Rev. Bob Stanford officiating. Interment was held in Laddonia Cemetery.
Ileen passed away Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at 9:50 p.m. at Heritage Hall in Centralia where she had resided for two months. She had been given loving care and went peacefully with her daughters by her side.
Myrtle Ileen DeTienne was born March 13, 1928, in rural Fremont, Mo. to Marvin Milton Vermillion and Myrtle Ivy (Massie) Vermillion. Ileen, as she liked to be called, was one of nine children and fourth of her siblings. At a very early age she learned to cook and sew as there were plenty of chores to do. Her childhood education was in the same one room schoolhouse that her mother had taught in and it sat on their homestead where it still stands today. There was not much idle time for Ileen growing up but she loved to read in her spare time. Ileen would sometimes daydream and think of places that she had read about, creating a longing that she would like to see these places someday. When Sunday came around, all work stopped on their little homestead farm. They would go into town in Fremont to attend the Methodist Church. It was in that church that Ileen accepted Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior.
Everyone in the area knew Ileen as she was called upon many times to help in their homes during their time of need. After she graduated from high school, she headed to St. Louis to work. It was there that she met the love of her life, James Eugene DeTienne. They were married in Paragould, Arkansas on March 7, 1949. To this union were born their four children, Jeffrey Logan DeTienne, Bend, Ore.; Anna Marie Teague (Jim), Laddonia; Marguerite Doebelin, Mexico; and Mary Virginia DeTienne, Kansas City.
The DeTienne family made their home in Laddonia where Ileen was a homemaker. With an over the road truck driver for a husband Ileen became quite the independent woman taking care of the children and their home. She never complained as she lovingly sewed their clothes, cooked and baked, raised gardens, canned all she could, made jellies, jams, and preserves. Ileen never drove and so you would find her and the children walking to the grocery store for their groceries, the mail, and sometimes stopping to visit a neighbor along the way. On Sundays, she made sure the children attended church. As the children were getting older Ileen found time to further her sewing talent by making doll clothes for not only her own daughters, but other girls' dolls too. She became known for making Ken and Barbie doll clothes and at the time of their popularity a store in Mexico sold her items.
Christmas was a special time for the family and always fun as the years rolled by, especially when the grandchildren came along. Grandchildren are Kerri Meine (Larry), Tammi Heuck (Mike), Stephanie Schmidt (Ryan), Jason Doebelin (Kelly) Tyrel DeTienne (Theresa), Errilla Orantes (Vince). Great-grandchildren are Logan Meine (Allyson), Mattie Meine, Ellie Cramer (Jared) Austin Heuck (Hannah), Shelby Heuck, Harrison Kleinsorge, (Camryn), Jesse Fennewald, Kaiden Doebelin, Kory Doebelin, Cole DeTienne, Chance DeTienne, Cruse DeTienne, and Vincent Orantes. Great-great grandchildren are Thea Jo Heuck and Cooper Wayne Meine.
After the children were gone from home, Ileen worked at the Laddonia Garment factory. She also substituted for the librarian in the old community building and then helped in getting a new library for Laddonia. During elections she worked as a judge at the polls in Laddonia. Ileen enjoyed embroidering, playing bingo, scrabble, working crossword puzzles, and word finds. Lots of laughs were shared when the family gathered at the table to play card games.
Ileen did get those daydreams she had as a young girl fulfilled when she and her husband bought a camper and traveled to many states, her memories filled with beautiful sceneries and historical places. As they grew older they kept their camping trips mostly in Mo. They also enjoyed a cruise to Nassau where again Ileen took advantage of learning the cultures of other places. Another highlight in her travels was a mother daughter (Virginia) trip to Hawaii.
After the loss of her husband of 57 years in 2006, Ileen continued to live in Laddonia for 8 more years keeping busy cleaning the Laddonia bank and the Laddonia Presbyterian Church along with doing some quilting. Ileen kept on reading many books and working large jigsaw puzzles. She enjoyed getting outside to do yard work and tend her tomato plants and flowers. Ileen enjoyed watching birds, especially her favorite, the hummingbirds that she helped feed.
In 2014, Ileen moved to Mexico. Even though the idea was to slow down it seemed that was not a preference for Ileen. She still kept her sewing machine busy and found pleasure in still making things especially for her great granddaughter, Shelby. Her kitchen always smelled of something good to eat as she was an outstanding cook. There was something special about stopping in and sharing a good cup of coffee with this lady. It was fun to decide which coffee cup we were going to drink from. And be sure and check the cookie jar. Ileen loved to keep up with her family and their lives. They filled her heart with pride, abundant joy and love.
Ileen was preceded in death by her parents, six brothers, Dwain, Eugene, Ray, Clyde, David, and Dale; a daughter in-law, Susan DeTienne, and a son in- law, Bob Doebelin. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. One sister, Linda Sue Lindsey, Winona, MO and one brother Damon Vermillion, Springfield, MO still survive, along with numerous other relatives.
Pallbearers were Logan Meine, Harrison Kleinsorge, Austin Heuck, Jesse Fennewald, Kaiden Doebelin and Mattie Meine.
Memorial contributions may be to the Laddonia Cemetery, in care of Bienhoff Funeral Home, P.O. Box 6, Laddonia, Missouri 63352.
