Longtime Galesburg Resident and Music Store Employee Betty Flesher Dies at 91

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Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Flesher, a longtime resident of Galesburg, Illinois, passed away on February 4, 2026, at the age of 91. Flesher was a graduate of Galesburg High School and worked at Flesher House of Music, the family's music store, from 1962 to 1996. She is survived by four sons, nine grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.

Why it matters

Flesher's passing marks the end of an era for the Flesher family and the Galesburg community, as she and her husband Ned were fixtures in the local music scene for decades. The Flesher House of Music was a beloved institution in Galesburg, and Betty's long tenure there reflects the family's deep roots in the city.

The details

Betty Flesher was born on March 28, 1934, in Galesburg to Dorothy Smith Bonesteel and Forrest 'Pete' Bonesteel. She married her high school sweetheart, Ned Raynor Flesher, in 1955. After working at The Bank of Galesburg from 1952 to 1955, Betty joined her husband at Flesher House of Music, where she worked until the couple's retirement in 1996. Betty and Ned were avid travelers, visiting all 50 states and 67 countries around the world.

• Betty Flesher was born on March 28, 1934.
• She married Ned Raynor Flesher on May 15, 1955.
• Betty worked at The Bank of Galesburg from 1952 to 1955.
• Betty worked at Flesher House of Music from 1962 to 1996.
• Betty Flesher passed away on February 4, 2026, at the age of 91.