BENTON – Blaine Joseph Baseden, 17, of Benton, passed away Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, due to injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, at the Benton Civic Center, 414 W. Hudelson St., Benton, with Pastor Brian Williams officiating. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Benton Civic Center.

The Leffler Funeral Home of Benton is in charge of arrangements.

Blaine was born Oct. 27, 2008, in Mount Vernon, IL., the son of Jeremy Baseden and Melinda Johnson.

He was a junior at Benton Consolidated High School.

Blaine enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting, fishing and hiking. He also enjoyed spending time with his friends and family.

Survivors include his mother, Melinda Johnson, and fiancé Brian Tapp of Marion, IL; his father, Jeremy Baseden of Benton; his sister, Bayley Ann Baseden of Vergennes, IL; grandparents Judy Williams of Simpson, IL, Keith Johnson and wife Tammy of Auburn, IL, and Bill Baseden of DeSoto, IL; great-grandmother, Martha Fielding of Auburn; aunts and uncles: Josh Johnson and wife Jennifer of Wilmington, N.C., Miranda Johnson of Milan, TN, Kevin Baseden and wife Dakota of Eldorado, IL, Bobby Baseden and significant other Evonne of DeSoto, IL, and Jessica Duvall and husband Todd of DeSoto; and several cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, Mary Baseden; maternal great-grandfather, Charles Johnson; maternal step-great-grandfather, Robert Fielding; paternal great-grandparents, Clarence and Betty Baseden; maternal great-grandmother, Patsy Kelly; and paternal great-grandmother, Mary Rodriguez.

Memorial contributions may be made to Leffler Funeral Home to assist the family with expenses and will be accepted at the service.

Condolences may be shared online at lpfuneralhome.com.

Please pray for the families of those involved in this tragic accident.