This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Ahrenholtz; Hulsebus; Benge; Miller; Gregerson; Holmes; Gibson; Schmitz; Gubbels; Drueppel; Bunde Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/zk.2ADI/1906 Message Board Post: Wilma Grace Benge ©Daily Nonpareil 2005 06/17/2005 Wilma Grace, daughter of Henry and Mathilda (Hulsebus) Ahrenholtz, was born November 24, 1913, near Defiance, Iowa. She grew up with her six brothers in rural Defiance where she attended country school. Grace worked at home as a young woman and then moved to Marshalltown for six years where she worked for the son of the owner of Lenox Furnace Company. On November 4, 1939, Grace was united in marriage with Harold E. Benge who she had met while living in Marshalltown. They were married at the Methodist Parsonage in Marshalltown and lived there for a couple of years before moving to a farm southeast of Manilla. Later they farmed west of Manilla. Grace and Harold ran a dairy operation and milked 42 cows twice a day for many years. During this time, Grace also worked for Dr. Soe for 17 years. In 1966 they retired from farming and in 1968 purchased a home and moved into town. During the 1990s, they lived in Denison for 10 years before returning to Manilla. Grace was a homemaker and farm wife. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and was active in the UMW, Bible study and as a Sunday school teacher. Grace was an excellent cook and baker and was noted for her cookies and dill pickles. She also painted ceramics and enjoyed playing bingo. Grace and her husband had a large garden and enjoyed growing flowers and bird watching. When their health began to fail, Grace and Harold moved to the Manilla Manor Nursing Home. Harold died December 10, 2004. The next year, on Saturday, June 11, 2005, Grace died, joining Harold. She was 91 years, 6 months and 18 days of age. Preceding Grace in death are her parents, husband and brothers Pete, Lou, Art, Chester, Walter and Edwin Ahrenholtz. She is survived by her children: John Benge and wife Marjorie of Manilla; Mary and husband Neil Miller of Manilla; Virginia and husband Ronald Gregerson of Manilla; Barbara and husband Gregory Holmes of Manilla; Lorraine Gibson of Henderson, Kentucky; grandchildren: Teri Benge; Traci and husband Michael Schmitz and children Jonathon, Haley & Samuel; Michael Benge; Mark Benge and wife Amy and daughter Brenna; Rick Miller and daughter Kayla; Brian Miller and wife Jennifer and sons Jerod and Spencer; Jodi and husband Bob Gubbels and children Joe, Jake and Kate; David Gregerson and special friend Shannon Kastning and children Justin and Amanda; Dianne and husband Ron Drueppel; Suzanne and husband Chris Bunde and daughter Alaina; Jon Holmes; Josh Gibson; other relatives and many friends. Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at the United Methodist Church in Defiance, Iowa. Reverend Keith Pals officiated the service and interment held at the Union Township Cemetery in Defiance, Iowa. Suzanne Bunde and Donna Muller served as pianists; Jon Holmes served as saxophonist and Paulette Rasmussen served as organist for vocalists Bill and Louise Ahrenholtz as they sang "He Touched Me" and congregational hymns, "Here I Am Lord" and "How Great Thou Art". Those serving as casketbearers were Rick Miller, Mark Benge, Jon Holmes, Brian Miller, Michael Benge, Joshua Gibson and David Gregerson. Those serving as honorary casketbearers were Teri Benge, Jodi Gubbels, Traci Schmitz, Suzanne Bunde and Dianne Gregerson.