Evelyn Benna, age 98, of Albert City, Iowa died Saturday, May 31, 2014 at the Pleasant View Home in Albert City.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 5, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Albert City. Burial will be in the Fairfield Township Cemetery in Albert City. Visitation will take place Thursday, June 7, 2014 from 9:30 a.m. until the service time at the church. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Albert City is in charge of the arrangements.

Evelyn Hulda Mary Junkermeier, the daughter of Johann and Lena (Kramersmeier) Junkermeier, was born in Marathon, Iowa on January 8, 1916. She was baptized at the United Church of Christ in rural Storm Lake, Iowa and as a teenager was confirmed at Our Savior’s in Rembrandt, Iowa. She spent her youth in the Rembrandt vicinity and received her education from Rembrandt High School. As a teenager she took private violin lessons and in high school her father gave her lessons playing the alto horn which she played in Marching Band and the city band in the bandshell. Following graduation, she continued her education at the Jackson School of Business in Chillicothe, MO. Evelyn was employed in secretarial work in Chicago for one year before moving back to Rembrandt to be with her family and work in a store.

Evelyn was united in marriage to Carl Benna of Albert City on January 15, 1940 in Rembrandt, Iowa. Together, they were blessed with three children: Margaret, Burton, and Bernadine. Evelyn worked alongside her husband on their farm while raising their children. As the children were growing up they fostered two teenage girls on two occasions. Her family was cherished the most as she and Carl attended their activities and encouraged and supported their interests which they continued doing as grandparents and great grandparents. She enjoyed being a homemaker but later she worked as a legal secretary for Diehl and Diehl Law Office for 15 years. The Bennas enjoyed working with and socializing with their neighbors and families, especially the “neighborhood gang”, the Bjorks, Bergs, Larsons, Lundbergs, Olsons, and Andersons. They had many birthday potlucks with card playing and other fun times. They picked wild raspberries and cherries together, cleaned chickens and helped each other. Picnics, swimming and fishing were other interests with neighbors. One summer they enjoyed hosting a foreign exchange student from Sweden with whom they continued a relationship for many years. Carl passed away in 1998 and Evelyn continued to live on the farm until 2003 when she moved to Countryside Independent Living in Albert City. On January 6, 2011, she became a resident of Pleasant View Home in Albert City.

Evelyn lived out her faith at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church where she served on many committees and participated in the Women of the ELCA and its Bible studies and workshops. She was a member of the Golden Rule Club and Womens’ Federated Club. She and Carl enjoyed membership in the Albert City Historical Society, Threshermen’s, and the Northwest Iowa Scandinavian Club. Her love of music was enjoyed when she played the alto horn with the Albert City Band in the bandshell. At age 65 she started taking more violin lessons and played in the Little Sioux Symphony in Cherokee for several years. Evelyn and Carl enjoyed taking many bus tours around the United States and traveled abroad to Germany and Sweden and visited relatives and friends.

Sewing, gardening, quilting, and knitting were other special interests of Evelyn’s. As Carl was an insurance agent, they entertained dinners in their home for some clients. Her cooking specialties were wild raspberry/rhubarb pies, cinnamon rolls, rye bread, ostkaka, sour cream chocolate cake, and chow mein.

Evelyn’s life and memory are loved and honored by her family which include her children: Peggy (Jon) Gunderson of Lake Park, Iowa; Burton (Marcia) Benna of Ames, Iowa; and Berny (Mick) Schleusener of Marathon, Iowa; grandchildren and great grandchildren: Ann (Duane) Wulf and their children: Cassidy, Axel, Zachariah, Garret, Marshall, and Victoria; Joni Weber and her children: Misha and Mikah, (fiancé, Ron Tschetter); Tim (Jody) Gunderson and their children: Lilli, Gracie, and Jackson; David Benna and his children: Emily and Anna; Jodi (Matt) Lawson and their children: Max and Allie; Carol (Matt) Sorenson and their children: Megan and Amber; and Deb Schleusener; her sister, Dorothy Smith of Bancroft, Iowa; nieces; nephews; other extended family and many lifelong friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Carl; brothers: John, Alfred, and Louis; and sisters: Nora, Luella, and Vanetta.

Blessed be the life and memory of Evelyn Hulda Mary Benna.

Click here to view Evelyn Benna's Memorial Folder

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