Richard, Eva Hildegard Benna (1915-2012)
RICHARD, BENNA, SPAR, SPECKETER, HARRISON, STRACK, KOPISCH, CROW, CARLSON, CREEL, CUNDIFF, NELSON, DRAHEIM, WACHTEL, MUSICK, ANDERSON, MINARD, SANDINE, WILLIAMS, MEAD
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 12/25/2012 at 23:50:16
Eva Hildegard Benna Richard
December 25, 1915 - December 6, 2012Alta, formerly Storm Lake
Surrounded by her children, Eva Hildegard Benna Richard peacefully left this earth to be with her Lord and Savior on December 6, 2012.
Born at home to George and Edith Spar Benna on Christmas day, 1915, Eva was the oldest girl of eleven children whose hard work and loving hands were crucial to the care of her younger siblings and the running of their large farm family.
Baptized and confirmed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Albert City, Eva embodied a lifelong commitment to her faith. After graduating from Albert City High School, she became the first telephone operator in the area.
Married during World War II, Eva experienced the trials and difficulties of a young military wife. After the war, she and her husband settled in Illinois where they raised their five children.
A very expressive and prolific writer, Eva created poetry and stories throughout her life. Professionally, she wrote for a newspaper. A lifelong lover of books as well as a librarian, she spent many happy hours reading.
A loving, caring, giving person, Eva touched the lives of all she met. A gentle spirit with a quiet will of iron, she lived for her God, her family, and her friends.
A beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother not only to her own direct descendants, but also to countless children whose lives she blessed with her loving care, she demonstrated her love for children in countless ways.
Thirty seven years ago, she returned to Storm Lake and became a real life “Mary Poppins” to area children and families as well as an inspiration within her church.
Eva was preceded in death by her husband, DJ; her parents, George and Edith (Spar) Benna; her sisters: (infant) Marie (Dolly,) and May Benna Specketer; and her brothers, Bart, George (Judge), Vern, and Hank Benna.
Mourning her loss are her children: Barbara Colleen (Virg) Harrison, of Cherokee, Iowa, Dee (Milton) Strack, of Monticello, Illinois, Mel (Jim) Kopisch, of Atascadero California, James (Bryn) Richard, of Portland, Oregon, and Liumi (Ross) Richard-Crow, of Austin, Texas; her grandchildren: Laura Carlson; Jeana Harrison; Angela Creel; Denny, Rick, Mike, Matthew, and Joshua Strack; Brian and Jeff Cundiff; Jake Kopisch; Scott Nelson; Bill Draheim; Shila Wachtel; Jennifer Musick; and Krystal Racca; twenty-two great grandchildren: Jordan Harrison; Milianna and Ben Carlson; James and Andrew Creel; Stephanie, Dillon, Sara, Zachary, and Vinny Strack; Rebecca and Vanessa Cundiff; Kaysey, Dustin, Lindsey, Niall, and Eleanor Anderson; James and Geneva Draheim; Anna Wachtel; Alaina Musick; and Cameron Smith; and her sisters, June Minard, of Midwest City, Oklahoma, Joyce Sandine, of Alta, and Anita (Richard) Williams, of Ottawa, Kansas; her brother, Leon (Pal) Benna (Marilyn), of Ankeny, Iowa; and her sisters-in-law, Naomi Benna, of Storm Lake, Iowa, and Bernie Mead, of Spencer, Iowa; as well as countless other relatives and friends.
Eva lived her life believing that every day is a new day, every morning a rebirth, a day to seek and to find the joy, the love and the spirit of God in our lives. That was Eva, a seeker of the Lord our God, she taught us well, planting seeds that were watered by the Grace and Love of God. And now this earthly journey ends for her. But not really an ending, a beginning—home, Home at last!
Copyright © 2012, Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Homes.
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