Mildred Bennington
Mildred E. Bennington, 104, of Fayette, died Sunday, August 17, 2014, at Maple Crest Manor in Fayette.
Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, August 21, 2014, at the United Methodist Church in Fayette with Rev. Hyeunmee Kang, Rev. Julie Ahrens, and Rev. Mary Hurmence officiating.
Burial will follow at Grandview Cemetery in Fayette.
Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until service time Thursday at the church.
Becker-Milnes Funeral home in Fayette is assisting Mildred’s family.
Memorials may be made in her name to the Fayette County Historical Society, the United Methodist Church in Fayette, or the American Cancer Society.
Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com.
Mildred Ethel Stelzmiller was born near Arlington, Iowa on December 31, 1909, the daughter of Nellie Heinricke Jane Manson and Henry John Stelzmiller. They farmed in Fayette and Clayton Counties, where Mildred attended country schools.
She graduated from West Union High School in 1927 during which time she received training to become an elementary school teacher. She taught in country school for five years and then completed the two-year normal training program at Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa) in March 1933.
She continued her teaching career in the Fayette Consolidated Schools for two years during which time she met her husband Glen Lester Bennington, who died on his 96th birthday, November 6, 2008.
They were married on April 27, 1937 and became the parents of two living daughters, Janis Marie Bennington Van Buren of West Lafayette, IN and Lois Mildred Bennington Llewellyn of Littleton, CO. Charlene Bennington died at birth on October 9, 1945.
Mildred was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend who took an active role in raising her daughters always stressing the values of education and service.
In addition to her two daughters, she is survived by her two sons-in-law, James Boyle and Francis Llewellyn and five grandchildren. The grandchildren and spouses are Diane Van Buren Kiss (Laszlo), Andrew Van Buren (Sherri), Jillian Van Buren (Joe Brady), Gwen Llewellyn Schuldies (Carl), and Glen Llewellyn (Malena). Her eight great-grandchildren are Alexander, Matthew, and Christopher Van Buren, Wynn and Vincent Schuldies, Daniel Llewellyn, and Drew and Cora Brady and one great-great-grandson Bentley Bennington Van Buren.
Also surviving are her sister Berniece (Stelzmiller) Walsh of Davenport, IA, several cousins, nieces, and nephews, and numerous friends of all ages.
Always active Mildred enjoyed gardening, collecting and preparing new recipes, doing needlepoint, and quilting until she could no longer see well. She continued to be an inquisitive learner, avid reader, faithful churchgoer, family historian, and teacher throughout her entire life.
She will be greatly missed by her family and those who knew her as an amazing, intelligent, gentle, kind, and caring woman. 34u34