Howard Dean Billingsley,&nbsp;79, of Mount Sterling, Iowa, passed away at 3:21 p.m. Sunday, September 20, 2026, at the Van Buren County Hospital in Keosauqua.

He was born on July 17, 1947, in Marshalltown, Iowa, the son of Robert Dean and Katherine Louise Lammert Billingsley. On August 6, 1966, he married Twila Wenke at the Hillsboro Christian Church in Hillsboro.

He is survived by his wife: Twila; three children: Tina (Mark) Welch, Lisa (Doug) Gatton, Toni (Mike) Peterson; six grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; one great grandchild on the way; one great - great grandchild on the way; two sisters: Joyce Weaver and LeAnn Gordy. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters; one brother; two nieces and three nephews.

Howard was a 1966 graduate of Harmony High School. He worked maintenance at Fruehauf. He enjoyed animal and arrowhead hunting, trapping, adjusting and fixing things until they were just right.

His body has been entrusted to the crematory of Schmitz Funeral Home for cremation.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

A memorial has been established in his memory and can be mailed to the family at: Schmitz Funeral Home, P.O. Box 56, Donnellson, IA 52625.

Schmitz Funeral Home of Farmington is assisting the family with arrangements.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2026/9/1790190661653.jpeg" alt="Howard Billingsly" />
 <figcaption>Howard Billingsly</figcaption>
 </figure>Howard Dean Billingsley,&nbsp;79, of Mount Sterling, Iowa, passed away at 3:21 p.m. Sunday, September 20, 2026, at the Van Buren County Hospital in Keosauqua.He was born on July 17, 1947, in Marshalltown, Iowa, the son of Robert Dean and Katherine Louise Lammert Billingsley. On August 6, 1966, he married Twila Wenke at the Hillsboro Christian Church in Hillsboro.He is survived by his wife: Twila; three children: Tina (Mark) Welch, Lisa (Doug) Gatton, Toni (Mike) Peterson; six grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; one great grandchild on the way; one great - great grandchild on the way; two sisters: Joyce Weaver and LeAnn Gordy. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters; one brother; two nieces and three nephews.Howard was a 1966 graduate of Harmony High School. He worked maintenance at Fruehauf. He enjoyed animal and arrowhead hunting, trapping, adjusting and fixing things until they were just right.His body has been entrusted to the crematory of Schmitz Funeral Home for cremation.A celebration of life will be held at a later date.A memorial has been established in his memory and can be mailed to the family at: Schmitz Funeral Home, P.O. Box 56, Donnellson, IA 52625.Schmitz Funeral Home of Farmington is assisting the family with arrangements.&nbsp;