Longtime Benton Resident Anzel Kay Kotval Dies at 87

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Anzel Kay Kotval, a longtime resident of Benton, Illinois, passed away on February 21, 2026, at the age of 87 following an extended illness. Kotval was born on a family farm near Akin, Illinois, in 1938 and earned an associate degree two weeks before graduating high school in 1956. She married John D. Kotval Jr. in 1958, and the couple lived in several Illinois towns before retiring to Benton in 1986. Kotval worked as the assistant controller of Olivet Nazarene College before retiring.

Why it matters

Kotval's passing marks the end of an era for Benton, a small Illinois town, as she was a longtime resident and active member of the community. Her life story reflects the changing times, from growing up on a family farm to earning a college degree and working in higher education administration.

The details

Anzel Kay Kotval was born on September 24, 1938, to Arthur Gordon Rice and Ruth Warren Rice on a family farm near Akin, Illinois. She earned an associate degree from a local college in Missouri two weeks before graduating high school in 1956. Kotval married John D. Kotval Jr. on May 2, 1958, and the couple lived in Hickory Hills, New Lenox, and Bourbonnais before retiring to Benton in 1986. Kotval worked as the assistant controller of Olivet Nazarene College before retiring. She was an avid genealogist and enjoyed traveling, including Caribbean cruises and trips to Walt Disney World.

• Anzel Kay Kotval was born on September 24, 1938.
• Kotval earned an associate degree from a local college in Missouri two weeks before graduating high school in 1956.
• Kotval married John D. Kotval Jr. on May 2, 1958.
• The couple retired to Benton, Illinois, in 1986.
• Kotval passed away on February 21, 2026, at the age of 87.