Grace M Benike

Grace Benike, age 93, Dawson,MN, formerly of the Raymond/Clark communities, died in the Johnson Memorial Living Center at Dawson early Tuesday morning, January 12, 2010. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 10:30 AM in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church at Raymond with The Reverend Mark Guthmiller officiating. Music will be provided by Karen McGraw as organist with congregational singing. Casketbearers will be Dana, Devlin, Darren, Jason and Reese Benike, Douglas Thesing, Garitt Irey and Dan Ihrke. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Clark. Visitation hours will be Friday from 5-7 PM at the Furness Funeral Home at Clark and at the Church in Raymond after 9:30AM on Saturday. She was born in Pickwick, MN, the daughter of Maurice and Catherine (McNally) Nagle on September 17, 1916. Grace was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith in the St. Johns Lutheran Church, Lewiston, MN. On December 16, 1937 she was united in marriage to Edward J. A. Benike at the home of his parents at Clark, SD. The couple lived and farmed near Raymond for many years until they retired and moved to a home in Logan Township, south of Raymond. Her husband passed away February 28, 1978. Shortly after his death she moved into an apartment in Clark. As her health declined, Grace became a resident of the Roetell Assisted Living Center at Clark for a few years before moving to Dawson and living in the Johnson Memorial Home. Grace was a longtime member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church at Raymond where she also was a member of the Ladies Aid group. She was also a member of the Birthday Club for many years. Some of her fondest moments were spent quilting and playing Yahtzee with the great-grandchildren. She will long be remembered for her fondness of baking and cooking for company. Many a time people were working in the area and they would stop by Graces on the farm, they always knew they would be fed well. Sunday dinners were a special favorite of hers. Grateful for having shared in her life are her children, Marilyn (Alton) Block of Winona, MN, Carol (Susan) Benike of Dawson, MN, a daughter-in-law, Jean Benike of Waubay, 13 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. Also surviving is a sister-in-law, Mable Nagle of Winona, MN, a very special friend for many years, Alma Hass of Raymond and nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her parents, husband Edward, two sons, Charles and David, a great-granddaughter, Rachel Frick, a great-great grandson, Jonathon McNally, nine brothers, Claybourne, Franklin, James, Leslie, LeRoy, Roland, Charles, Francis and Irven and two sisters, Virginia and Marjorie. Arrangements are announced by the Furness Funeral Home at Clark who is serving the family. There is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com