Friday, March 29, 2024

Marilyn Lucille Benge

Posted

December 16, 1939 – March 13, 2017

Mom passed after her long, hard fought battle to pancreatic cancer.  She joins her husband of 58 years Jim, who recently lost his battle with cancer as well, in Jesus’s arms.

Mom was born to A.J. and Lucille Heath in Emmett, Idaho.  She married her high school sweetheart, Jim, in Emmett on November 15, 1958.  They lived in Emmett, Anderson Ranch, and Mountain Home, Idaho.  For a brief period, they lived in Redding, Calif.  They moved to Brewster, Wash. in 1977 and lived there until 2011, after which they moved to Davenport, Wash.

Mom has been a hard worker her entire life.  She was the fastest cherry picker in her uncle’s orchard.  In Emmett, she worked at the local cannery, at Bork Motor, and as a hygienist.  In Brewster, she worked at the Quad City Herald and the school district. If she met you, she wanted to talk and get to know you and all of us kids would soon be aware of a new friend in her life.

She had a great vision for remodeling, which Jim and she did frequently.  She was very creative and repurposed everything she could.  She lived by the saying “Waste not, want not”.  Every holiday it was a joy to see the house decorated, the smell of all the great things she was cooking in the kitchen, and open arms to anyone who came to the house.  She always had special things for her granddaughters to enjoy – a special tea party, dolls, trains set up, flowers to plant, vegetables to pick, or a special road trip in the camper.  

Mom loved collecting and reading cookbooks, embroidering napkins on each holiday for her grandchildren, digging in the dirt planting and gardening, and checking out her “trap line” aka the thrift stores, and yard sales.  Mom was a member of Job’s Daughters and was the honored queen in her youth. She was always full of energy and never stayed still.  She kept an immaculate house. Mom loved all her family and kept us all together by spreading the news and details of our lives.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Peggy, and nephew Jimmy. Her mom and sister also both were taken by cancer.

Marilyn is survived by her three children; Rick (Paula), Scott (aka Woody), and Marci (Rob); her grandchildren Olivia, Megan, Grace, Sydney, and Audrey; and her great- grandchild Cole and foster great-grandchild Marie and her very special brother Carl. Her generosity, kindness, loving and caring attitude, and strength will be missed.  

We love you mom.

A joint service for both Mom and Dad will be planned at a later date.

Please sign the online guestbook at www.strateruneralhome.com. Strate Funeral Home, Davenport, Wash. is caring for the Benge family.