Bettejane "Bj" Herzberger, 98, of Bluff Springs (and Virginia and Beardstown), Illinois passed away peacefully of natural causes early Sunday morning, February 7, 2021. Bettejane Naumann was born on July 5, 1922, and married Glenn Herzberger on August 7, 1949, having five children in the 1950s. She is survived by a daughter, Sue Anna Herzberger-Button (Rick) of Anchorage, AK, and three sons, Jonn of Tempe, AZ, Lynn (Rosemary) of Illinois, and Matt of Lakewood, CO. She was preceded in death by her parents, Hilton and Mabelle (Rexroat) Naumann of Peoria, IL, her husband, Glenn of Bluff Springs, IL, and her son, Jeffrey of San Antonio, TX. Bj attended Virginia High School, and she majored in education at MacMurray College and the University of Illinois. She became a teacher extraordinaire beginning in a one-room schoolhouse not far from where she was born. This stint was followed by teaching at other small schools in the Chandlerville and Arenzville areas. Teaching at those schools and later at Gard and Brick (Beardstown) brought her much joy and satisfaction both from her students and from her fellow teachers. Much of her life included the wonders and joy of exploring the globe. As a young woman she journeyed to the New York Worlds Fair and, for adventure, lived in southern California for a year. With their five children she and Glenn took "relaxing" vacations traveling the U.S. in their Volkswagen van. When their nest emptied, Bj enjoyed the adventurous flights that she and Glenn took in their single-engine planemany to the contiguous United States, several to Alaska, and the big one over the Atlantic to Europe. When not flying their own plane, they explored many parts of the world using standard air travel. She really loved their next mode of travel, which was motoring throughout the United States in their 1970s-era GMC motorcoach. This brought her a new love of our country. In her later years, Bj met presidents and other notables and wandered to all parts of our world by reading; she was a voracious reader of nonfiction. When not traveling, Bj cultivated her garden, her flowers, and her wild birds. Each provided pleasure and kept her "out of trouble." Bjs last journey leaves behind her family and her many friends. They will miss her wisdom, her wit, and her authenticity. A celebration of life will be held later this year so friends can safely gather to celebrate a long life well lived. Meanwhile, donations will be welcomed at the following two organizations: Friends of Old Lincoln Courtroom & Museum, PO Box 381, Beardstown, IL 62618, or to Friends of the Rexroat Prairie, c/o Debby Krohe, 820 S. Plum St., Virginia, IL 62691. The Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Virginia is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be left online at buchanancody.com.