Deaths

Death notices for the far Stateline: Nov. 24, 2025

We remember those who are no longer with us in Rockton, Roscoe, and South Beloit.

Michael McGinnis

Nov 24, 2025 — 2 min read

Darlene Speich, Rease Binger, Nancy Laursen

With sadness, we announce the following deaths for Rockton, Roscoe, and South Beloit in recent weeks:

Nov. 15, 2025:
Nancy Laursen, 90, Roscoe
After graduating from South Beloit High School and marrying her husband in 1953, she worked at McLeary’s, now Axium Foods, until her retirement in 1995. She was a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Rockton, the Intermediate Women’s Club of Beloit, and a volunteer at Caritas.

Nov. 16, 2025:
Darlene M. Speich, 93, Roscoe
Affectionately known as "Sarge," she worked at Pfizer until 1987 to give her family more comforts than she had experienced during the Great Depression and World War II. Commanding and often stubborn, she did not worry about “work-life balance.” She just worked. Raised on a dairy farm, she loved animals.

Rease Binger, 88, South Beloit
He played on the 1955 Rockford boys’ basketball state championship team and was named to Rockford University's Hall of Fame. While teaching math and coaching at South Beloit High School in the 1970s, he mentored All-State basketball player Perry Range, who went on to be drafted by the NBA after starring at the University of Illinois.