Esther Bensink

BENSINK, VAN ZEE, DE KOCK

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 11/13/2006 at 19:54:38

Esther Dora Bensink was born east of Pella, Iowa on June 23, 1902, the daughter of Aart B. and Elizabeth De Kock Van Zee. She attended the Pleasant View rural grade school and the Central Academy in Pella, and was employed for a time at the Pella Overall Factory. On January 24, 1924 she was united in marriage with Nelis Bensink in Pella and to this union four children were born: Henry Arthur, Marjorie Louise, Ruth Laverne and Darlene V. Nelis and Esther farmed north of Pella in the Thunder Creek vicinity for 25 years following their marriage. In 1949 they moved to Monroe, Iowa and in 1965 to Pleasantville, Iowa where they continued to farm. They were living at Pleasantville at the time of her death which occurred Thursday afternoon, February 12, 1981 at the Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. Surviving are her husband, Nelis; her children and their wife and husbands: Henry Bensink of Pleasantville; Marjorie, Mrs. Floyd Wilcox of Albia, Iowa; Ruth, Mrs. Russell Van Genderen of Monroe; Darlene, Mrs. Jerry Van Hal of Pella, 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Of her original family, Esther leaves her three sisters: Sarah, Mrs. Henry Hackert of Oskaloosa, Iowa, her twin sister, Dora Esther, Mrs. Will Van Zante of Baxter, Iowa, and Ruth, Mrs. Herbert Smith of Pella. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Gerrit A. (Gary) Van Zee. Esther made confession of her faith athe Third Reformed Church in Pella. Ath the time of her death she was a faithful member of First Reformed Church of Knoxville, Iowa where she also belonged to the Guild. Mrs. Bensink was always a faithful wife, mother and grandmother. she attained the age of 78 years, 7 months and 19 days.