TAMA-Blanche V. Benda, age 97, of Tama, died on Sunday, July 8, 2007 in Grandview Acres in Toledo due to advanced age. Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 at 10:30 AM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama with Pastor Jerry Avise-Rouse officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Tama. Visitation will be Monday, July 9, 2007 from 6-8 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.
Blanche V. Benda was born on September 12, 1909, in Chelsea, Iowa, the daughter of John and Mary (Kupka) Dvorak.
On April 18, 1938, she was united in marriage to Harry Benda at the Presbyterian Parsonage in Marshalltown. She was employed as a telephone operator for eleven years. From 1940-1951, she owned and operated a tavern in Chelsea and from 1958-1973 she worked at Spooner Grocery Store in Tama. She also worked at King Tower Café at the register for five years. Blanche was a hard worker. Her hobbies included playing Bingo and she was an avid fan of the Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs, and Iowa Hawkeyes. She always knew the final score of every game. Her greatest enjoyment was being with her family, especially her grandkids.
Blanche was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harry in 1974; her daughter-in-law, Mary Jo Benda; and her siblings, Gladys, Mayme, Agnes, Carrie, Millie, Bill, Ella, and Charlie.
Survivors include one son, Roger Benda of Tama; one daughter, Mary Kay Timmons of Cedar Rapids; four grandchildren, Debbie (Brett) Goode, Darin (Tara) Benda, Brahn (Jessica) Timmons, and Kyle Timmons; seven great-grandchildren, Steffie and Samantha Benda, Tyler, Emily, and Lucas Goode, Brendan Timmons and Hunter Stonebreaker.
A memorial fund has been established.