Bennett, Esther O. 1919-2007

BENNETT, CHRISTIANSON, IVERSON, ALLEN, ENGLIN, JOHNSON, BARNES

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 5/6/2012 at 12:04:16

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Au. 27, 2007

ESTHER O. BENNETT

Esther O. Bennett, 88, of Gladbrook and formerly of Laurel and Grinnell died on Friday, Aug. 24, 2007, at Westbrook Acres in Gladbrook.

A funeral service for Esther Bennett will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, at the Elim Lutheran Church in Marshalltown with Karen Cluts, pastor of the church, and Owen R. Englin, minister of music at the Athens Christain Church of Athens, Ill., officiating. Music will be provided by Mary Jane Sprague, organist, and Erin Englin, vocalist. Casket bearers will include Larry, Leslie, Roger and Ronnie Iverson and Keith and Paul Johnson. Honorary bearers will include her grandchildren, Jody Mae Bennett, Jeffrey Bennett, Jamie Bennett, Christin Barnes, David Allen, Owen Allen, Tony Englin and Jim Englin. Interment will be at Rose Hill Memory Garden in Marshalltown.

Friends may call at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 28. Condolences may be sent via the funeral home's web site, www.smithfh.com.

Born July 31, 1919, in Chester Township near Grinnell, she was the daughter of Christopher and Agnetta Christianson Iverson. She attended rural school in Poweshiek County and graduated from Grinnell High School with the class of 1937.

Following her training, she taught in rural schools in Poweshiek County. She later worked at th Grinnell Shoe Company, the Macaroni Factory in Lebanon, Penn., and the Laurel Co-op.

On Jan. 10, 1943, she married John C. Bennett at her parents' home near Grinnell. The couple operated a grain and livestock farm near Grinnell, State Center and Kellogg before moving to their farm north of Laurel in 1964.

She was a member of the Elim Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday school, sang in the church choir and assisted with bible school. She enjoyed gardening, raising flowers and making quilts for babies.

She is survived by her children, Daryl Bennett of Laurel, Carolyn Allen of Anchorage, Alaska, and Marlene Englin of Audubon; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; a brother, Arthur Iverson; a sister, Stella Johnson; and a grandson.

Memorials may be directed to the Elim Lutheran Church or to the Amenity Hospice of Cedar Rapids.