Kenny, Mary (Mrs. Luther T.) 1860-1932

DENNY, DENISON, BENISON

Posted By: Janet Brown - volunteer (email)
Date: 8/11/2013 at 18:19:05

From the Thursday, April 14, 1932 Hawarden Independent:

MRS. L.T. KENNY ANSWERED CALL

PASSED AWAY AT HOME IN THIS CITY TUESDAY AFTERNOON

Was 72 Years of Age and Lived in Hawarden 43 Years — Leaves One Son and One Daughter

Mrs. L. T. Kenny, a resident of Hawarden for more than forty years, died at her home in this city about 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon after a short illness from pneumonia. Several weeks ago Mrs. Kenny fell and fractured her hip and she was still bedfast when she contracted pneumonia.

Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon. Brief services will be held at the home at 2 o'clock and at the Associated church at 2:30. Rev. R. J. Cornell will conduct the services in which the local chapter of the Eastern Star, of which the deceased was a charter member, will have a part. Burial will be made in Grace Hill cemetery beside her late husband, who died May 7, 1926.

Mary Adelia Denison was born near Oswego, N. Y. March 16, 1860, and died April 12, 1932, at the age of 72 years and 25 days. She came to Iowa with her parents when a girl in her teens and lived near Strawberry Point for a short time and then located near Manchester, in Delaware county. On Oct. 6, 1878, after having taught school for two years, she was united in marriage with Luther T. Kenny. Three years later they located at Elk Point, S. D., and came to Hawarden eight years later. This was in 1889 so for 43 years Mrs. Kenny made her home in this city.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Kenny worked with the local Baptist church for several years. He was superintendent of the Sunday School and Mrs. Kenny taught a young men's class. Later they united with the Congregational church and were active in its affairs for many years; Mrs. Kenny had joined the Christian church when a girl.

At the time of her death Mrs. Kenny was the only resident charter member of the local chapter of the Eastern Star lodge and one of the two living charter members. George E. Ward of Sioux City is now the only living charter member of the local chapter. Mrs. Kenny was active in the Browning and Shakespeare clubs of an earlier day in Hawarden and in women's organizations.

Mrs. Kenny is survived by two children and two grandchildren and a very large circle of friends. The children are Mrs. Mabel L. Amthor, now of Los Angeles, Calif., and LeRoy L. Kenny of this city. The grandchildren are Helen Amthor and Edith Kenny. A son, Orville, died in infancy, Mrs. Amthor arrived in Hawarden about a week ago to visit her mother and assist in caring for her.

Mrs. Kenny found much comfort in her Bible during her last illness. Even during the weeks that she was confined to her bed her thoughts were of others and their welfare. She had long taken a deep personal interest in young men and was "Mother" Kenny to many such a one. Her home was always open to young men and she made it homelike for them. She will be greatly missed by all who have known her. Many friends in this community extend sincerest sympathy to the sorrowing relatives.

Poster's note: In the 1925 Iowa census, Adelia Denison gives her parents names as William Dennison and what looks like Mercy Benison but is probably just Mercy Denison although the B in Benison looks exactly like the regular Bs of the census taker, not like the census taker's Ds.