Virginia Lee Bena (1932-2021)

BENA, LUKEMYERS, ROBINSON, SWARTZENDRUBER, ELLIOT, MEIER, LOFTIS, FANKHAUSER

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 2/21/2021 at 07:07:14

OBITUARY
Virginia “Ginny” Lee Bena formerly of Tipton, entered into eternity on February 16, 2021 while under the care of the Guttenberg Care Center.

Private funeral services were held on Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 1:00pm at Fry Funeral Home, Tipton, Iowa with Rev. Ronald Lashmit, officiating. Burial: St Bridget’s Cemetery in the Nolan Settlement. Family requests memorials to be directed to St. Croix Hospice, 101 Elkader Street, Strawberry Point, Iowa 52076. Online condolences may always be shared at www.fryfuneralhome.com .

Virginia was born on Tuesday, June 28th, 1932, the daughter of Ralph and Emma (Lukemyers) Robinson, in Clarence, Iowa. Virginia was the twelfth of twelve children. She attended Tipton Community School for 2 years and then attended West Branch School for 10 years. She graduated high school in 1950. Prior to graduation and after, she worked for Jensen’s Grocery in West Branch, Iowa and then onto Iowa Illinois Gas and Electric Company in Iowa City, Iowa.

Virginia married Thomas R. Bena on January 23, 1951 at St.Bridget’s Catholic Church in Nolan Settlement. Virginia was a hard-working farm wife, loving mother, grandmother, great and great-great grandmother who devoted her lifetime to her family. She enjoyed babysitting for her grandchildren, playing cards and games with them. She loved to dance with her husband Tom and listen to Polka music. Virginia enjoyed watching the Hawkeyes on TV, flowers and making quilts and pillows for the family, but her greatest joy was having her family together for the holidays.

Virginia is survived by her children, Susan (Reggie) Swartzendruber of West Amana, Iowa, Sally (Tom) Elliot of Strawberry Point, Iowa, Nancy Meier of Tipton, Iowa, Steve (Lauri) Bena of Volga, Iowa and LuAnn (Tony) Loftis, of North Liberty, Iowa; 12 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; and her sister, Helen Fankhauser of Iowa City, Iowa.

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Tom of 68 years; her parents, Ralph and Emma Robinson; 4 brothers and 6 sisters.