Preston, Leona Mae (Benscoter) 1930-2006

PRESTON, BENSCOTER, BURKHART

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 12/1/2006 at 20:04:49

Leona Mae Preston was born in Harvey on July 27, 1930. She was one of three children born to Anna Mae Burkhart and Edgar Benscoter. Leona attended school in the Harvey and Knoxville Schools. She was a 1949 graduate of Knoxville High School. In March 1964 Leona married William Edward Preston. To this union two children were born.

After William's death on Jan. 9, 1965, Leona was left to raise two small children. She worked several years at the local overall factory. Later Leona began working at Pella Corp. She retired in 1992 after over 30 years of employment. During this time her mother, Anna Mae helped to raise the children. Anna Mae eventually moved in with the family to become part of their household.

Leona was a member of the Harvey Assembly of God Church. She was president of the local Parents Without Partners organization for several years. After the children left home, Leona began spending time doing crafts. She enjoyed making fleece blankets for all the family as well as for sales. She also knitted dish cloths and baby quilts. Her love of flowers took much of her summer hours. Lilies and roses were favorite flowers especially calla lilies.

Leona Mae Preston passed away on Oct. 12, 2006, at the Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines at the age of 76.

Preceding her in death were her father, husband, step-son, Rich Mellinger, and brother-in-law, Don Vance.

Survivors include two children and their spouses, William "Bill" and Joan Preston of Knoxville and Mary and Ken Killian of Papillion, Neb.; her mother, Anna Mae Benscoter of Knoxville; three grandchildren; two sisters and their spouses, Verda and Dick Kruse of Bloomfield and Anna Marie and Bill Visser of Harvey; two step-daughters, Pam McKinney and her husband, Ed of Spring Valley, Ill. and Deb Vanwassenhove of Kewanee, Ill. as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Celebration of Life was held at Williams Funeral Home on Oct. 16 with Pastors Kirk Erwin and Michael Miller officiating. Interment was in Breckenridge Cemetery in rural Marion County. Memorials in memory of Mrs. Preston may be made to her Family.

Williams Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

The Knoxville Journal Express, November 3, 2006