BENZLER, Marjorie A. (1908-1990)

BENZLER, TANRUTHER

Posted By: Hancock Co Genealogical Society
Date: 4/11/2025 at 16:07:46

Marjorie Benzler
1908-1990

Services for Marjorie Benzler, 88, Britt, who died Saturday, Jan. 6, 1990 at the Friendship Haven in Fort Dodge, were held Tuesday, Jan. 9, 1:30 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Britt with Rev. Dennis Bailey officiating.

Music was provided by organist, Harriet Beaman, who accompanied the congregation. Ushers were Chuck Smith and Don Eisenman.

Casket bearers were Robert Hiscocks, Jr., Gilbert Guenther, Lyle Anderson, Mahlon Yaggy, Don Johnson and Don Kraus.

Burial was at the Evergreen Cemetery in Britt with Ewing Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Marjorie Benzler, the daughter of George and Eva James Benzler, was born November 5, 1901 at Sheffield. The family moved to Britt in 1908 where she graduated from the Britt High School. She graduated from Whitworth College in Brookhaven, MS and did two years of graduate work at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. She taught at Whitworth College for six years. In 1932, she returned to Britt where she taught piano and organ until her retirement in 1981.

Through the years, she had taught hundreds of young people in the area. Not only was she interested in her pupils progress in music, she was genuinely interested in them as individuals. She was generous in helping them with music they might be playing for high school activities, for church, weddings, etc, and was interested in all their many activities. They appreciated her personal interest and after they were grown, came to visit her, wrote letters to her and sent pictures of their families.

She was a generous person, giving of her time and money to community projects, her church and various philanthropies. She gave lessons without charge to many children who showed talent, but could not afford lessons. She established a scholarship at Iowa State University for students studying piano.

For years she served as organist at the Methodist Church in Britt.

Marjorie was a member of the United Methodist Church in Britt and of Chapter G.F. of PEO.

She is survived by one sister, Mrs. Edgar (Evelyn) M. Tanruther of Greenwood IN.

source: Leader & Signal, Garner, Iowa, 17 Jan 1990, page 4, column 5