Rowena Dee Bennett 1923-2000

BENNETT KRAFT BURSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 2/15/2010 at 17:30:23

Sioux City Journal
8 January 2000

Mapleton, Iowa—Rowena Dee “Row” Bennett, 76, of Mapleton, died Thursday, January 6, 2000 at her residence.

Memorial services will be at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mapleton with the Rev. Karen Handke officiating. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery with military rites conducted by American Legion Loren Hollister Post 496 of Mapleton.

Mrs. Bennett was born August 31, 1923, in Mapleton, the daughter of Thomas Oliver and Ida (Kraft) Burson. She graduated from Mapleton High School in 1941, and attended Rockford College in Illinois in 1942.

She graduated from Minnesota School of Medical Technology in Minneapolis in 1943, and worked as a hospital in Panama during World War II. She enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service) in February 1944. She was stationed at the Naval Hospital in St. Albans, N.Y.

She married Oliver “Ollie” P. Bennett Jr. on June 17, 1944 in Bel Aire, Md. Following their discharges from the Armed Forces, they returned to Mapleton where they made their home. He died September 13, 1983.

She had her pilot license and flew her own plane. She was a member of 99s and Mapleton Flying Club. She was also a member of P.E.O. Chapter FQ and American Legion Loren Hollister Post 496. She worked with the Monona County Republican Party activities and served as a volunteer.

Survivors include four daughters, Carla Marsh of Mapleton, Cassandra “Cass” and her husband, Samuel Williamson of Oxford, Ohio, Jean and her husband, Gregg Kenner of Marshalltown, Iowa and Jan Laageide of Larkollen, Norway; six grandchildren, Bennett and Lee Kenner, Jessica and Carl Williamson, Hunt Marsh and Gaylen Laageide, and a great –grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and an infant son, Gaylord.

Memorials in her name may be directed to an organization of choice or Burgess Home Health-Hospice in Onawa.