BENTON — Anzel Kay Kotval, 87, of Benton, died Feb. 21, 2026, following an extended illness.

She was born Sept. 24, 1938, on a family farm near Akin, the daughter of Arthur Gordon Rice and Ruth Warren Rice. She earned an associate degree from a local college in Missouri two weeks before graduating high school in 1956.

She married John D. Kotval Jr. on May 2, 1958; he preceded her in death in 1999. The couple lived in Hickory Hills, New Lenox, and Bourbonnais before retiring to Benton in 1986.

Mrs. Kotval retired as the assistant controller of Olivet Nazarene College. She was an avid genealogist and enjoyed traveling, including Caribbean cruises and trips to Walt Disney World.

Survivors include a brother, Kevin Warren Rice of Bourbonnais; a son and daughter-in-law, Donald and Charity Kotval of Columbia, Tennessee; a daughter, Paula Kotval of Benton; three grandchildren, John D. Kotval III and wife Lauren, Courtney Metschuleit, and David Hamilton Kotval and wife Jenny; and one great-granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Gordon Richard Rice; and a granddaughter, Stephanie D. Learned.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, March 6, at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton. Burial will follow at the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of service Friday at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com.