George Herbert Benfer (1890-1950)

BENFER, PERRY, BAKER, SCHMELLIK, OLSON, WEBBER, WENDLING, HARDING

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/10/2020 at 14:38:06

From Nevada Evening Journal August 15, 1950 (page 4)

Final Services For George H. Benfer

Funeral services for George Herbert Benfer were held Friday afternoon, Aug. 11, from the Colo Evangelical United Brethren church with the Rev. Carl Frankhauser of Manly, Iowa, in charge of the rites, assisted by the Rev. John F. Rex of the Colo Methodist church.

The large number of floral arrangements were cared for by Mrs. M. L. Rankin and Mrs. Clifford Geister.

A quartet, Paul Henry, Isabelle Bamford, Lois Yeager and Mark Wilson sang two numbers, "Good Night Here, But Good Morning Up There" and "Saved by Grace". Charles Hinton sang "God Understands" as a solo number. Mrs. Merle Dickinson presided at the piano as accompanist and also played appropriate number preceding and following the service.

Casket bearers were Dr. M. L. Rankin, Charles Yeager, Ross King, Omer Farren, Walter Bamford and Ralph Handsaker. Interment was in the Colo cemetery.

Mr. Benfer passed away suddenly Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 8, at his home from a heart attack when he discovered a fire was threatening the corn crib at his farm and attempted to put the blaze out while waiting for the fire department to arrive.

He had been burning cob and husks away from the crib during the morning and assumed the fire had gone out when he went to the house for lunch and a rest. When he returned to the crib during the afternoon he discovered that fire had taken a new start and was very near the building. He called to Mrs. Benfer to notify the fire department. when the firemen arrived they found Mr. Benfer on the ground near the fire. Artificial respiration was used; but he was pronounced death upon arrival of the doctor.

Obituary

The following obituary was read by Rev. Frankhauser during the services:

"George Herbert Benfer was born in Huxley, Ia. Feb. 10, 1890, the son of Charles and Bertha K. Benfer. He was the oldest of a family of 10 children and is the first of children to be taken by death. His early life was lived in Cambridge.

As a youth he studied automotive mechanics, which trade he followed for 38 years -- at Colo, Marshalltown and Des Moines.

On November 26, 1916, he was united in marriage to Mary Perry, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred C. Perry at Colo. To this union were born three children, Fredric Perry, Mary Jeanette and Carolyn Marjorie.

The family moved from Colo to Marshalltown and in 1930 to Des Moines, where Mr. Benfer was employed for 18 years by the Sanders Motor company as a new car inspector and mechanic.

Early in life he gave his life to Christ and had lived a consistent Christian life, always taking an active part in the Church in each community he lived.

He had been a member of the Presbyterian church, later transferring his membership to the Evangelical United Brethren church in which he enjoyed fellowship for 35 years.

A man of quiet manner, deeply religious in thought and deed, he was devoted to the ideals of home and family. His whole life exemplified the Golden Rule.

Failing health prompted him to give up his trade in 1948 and the family moved to the farm, near Colo where he took great pride in beautifying his home."

The son Lt. Perry Benfer, was killed in action if 1945 during World War II.

Surviving

Surviving are his wife; two daughters, Mrs. Don R. Baker of Cedar Falls and Mrs. Darwin Schmellik of Colo; two granddaughters; and nine brothers and sisters, Earl and Harold of Chicago, Ill., Marie Martin of Seattle, Wash., Ernest of Bellevue, Wash., Lois Olson, Janice Webber, Jeanne Wendling, Ruth Harding and Evelyn, all of Los Angeles, Calif.

A memorial fund was given by members of the Grace Evangelical Brethren church in Marshalltown, of which Mr. Benfer was a former member. It will be used as a memorial for the new church at Marshalltown.

A group of members of the Des Moines E.U.B. church attended the rites in body.

Those attending services from a distance came from Edwardsville, Ill., Algona, Des Moines, Waverly, Manly, Ames, Boone, Grand Junction, Carroll, Zearing, Marshalltown, Nevada and Bondurant.

Dinner was served to the family group at noon hour at the church parlors. The Clover Leaf club of Colo, of which Mrs. Benfer is a member, was at the home and served lunch to the group following the final rites.