Leland Beneke
December 25, 2011
Leland F. Beneke, 90, of Des Moines died Sunday December 25, 2011, at Scottish Rite Park. According to his wishes, his body was donated to Des Moines University.
Lee was born February 5, 1921, in Laurens, Iowa, to Anton and Theresa (Mefferd) Beneke. A graduate of Iowa State University, he was a member of the Farmhouse Fraternity. He married Shirley Siefken in 1947. He worked for the Extension Service, then farmed the family acres, served as a bank loan officer, and later established a farm management and real estate business.
He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, Vinton Masonic Lodge, and Cedar Rapids El Kahir Shrine. Lee enjoyed fishing, playing bridge, following the stock market, and sharing a good joke.
Leland was predeceased by his parents; siblings, Donald Beneke, Raymond Beneke, Helen Overdahl, and James Beneke; and an infant son, Craig Lee. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley; sisters, Lucille Ellson of Orlando, FL, and Marjorie Jensen of Fairmont, MN; three children, Lynn Hilmers of Houston, Bill (Sallee) Beneke of Princeton, Illinois, and Ann Beneke of Des Moines; nine grandchildren, Matt and Dan Hilmers, Maggie, Alice, Tom, and Abby Beneke, and Claire, Emma, and Joe Wandro; two great-grandchildren, Ian and Josiah Hilmers; and a host of other family and beloved friends.
Services will be Wednesday, December 28, at 2 p.m. in the Penthouse at Scottish Rite Park. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Scottish Rite Park’s Good Life Fund or Wesley United Methodist Church, Vinton, Iowa.
Online condolences may be made at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Deborah Dowd Parker
01/23/2012
Dear Ann,
My deepest sympathies to you and your family.
Deborah Dowd Parker
Margaret Hanson Ranger
01/13/2012
What to say about such a great man? Anyone who knew him benefitted from his dry sense of things combined with a very warm heart. Speaking of hearts, he taught me to love this game, always very fun when he would whip out the Queen of Spades on us innocent girls! Just loved it! How exciting a card game could become! Many a good moment spent at the Beneke house. And they continue in my memories and I thank you so much for them. I am very lucky to have you as great friends & family for me. Love love love to you all. You have given me much. I celebrate life because of you. Love, Margaret
Karol Heppe
01/04/2012
Dear Beneke Family,
I think often of my memories spent with the Benekes. I am so sorry to read of
Leland's passing. You were all like a second family to me when I was growing
up. Leland was such a good father and husband and I know he must have also been
a loving grandfather and I believe I read, great-grandfather. Anyway, it sounds
like he has been surrounded by lots of love over these years which will make his
passing more difficult. Oh, but the memories you will all get to share going
forward. To you all I send my sincerest sympathy.
Beth Hanson
12/30/2011
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at the passing on of dear Lee. My Sis, Margaret has shared many treasured memories of him when visiting your home. Our hearts go out to each one of you~ Beth Hanson & family, Boise, Id.
Lisa Skinner
12/29/2011
Shirley, Lynn, Ann and Bill,
We are very sorry to hear about the passing of Mr. Beneke. I knew him since I was ten years old, and every time he visited Bill's family in Princeton, he always took the time to talk with me. I always thought how lucky the Beneke grandkids were to have a grandpa like him. He was so kind and generous, and went out of his way to be at family events for them. They are so blessed to have had him in their lives. He was a good man.
We offer our deepest sympathy to you and your families.
Lisa & Alejandro Bastardo-Skinner
Barb Beau
12/28/2011
Dear Shirley and family,
So very sorry to learn of Lee's passing. We shared some good memories when you lived on B Av in Vinton and we were a block away on A Ave. The neighborhood picnic with master griller Harold was always a good time. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Barb and Roger Beau
Kathryn Rammelsberg Knaack
12/28/2011
my sincere sympathy... a wonderful person to have known..
Linda (Dake) Duffie
12/28/2011
Beneke Family -
I was saddened to hear that Lee has passed on from this life. I have many fond memories of playing at your house in Vinton. I know that he was a respected community leader and set a positive example for all of you to follow.
I pray God's blessings for each of you and hugs as well.
Orlando
12/28/2011
Please accept our sincere condolences on the loss of your beloved Leland.
With deep sympathy,
Famiglia Orlando
Joe Skinner
12/28/2011
Dear Mrs. Beneke,
I feel very fortunate to have known Mr. Beneke. He was a great Iowan, and a great person who was always very nice to me, even when I was an obnoxious college kid. Please let me offer my sympathy for your loss.
David M. Boddicker
12/28/2011
Beneke Family,
I am so sorry for the loss your husband, father and grandfather. My thoughts and prayers are with you. He lived a long life and there are plenty of great memories to cherish. Your hearts will heal with time, he has gone onto a greater reward and will see you all again. You now have an angel that will be watching over you all and his spirit will live on in all the lives that he touched over the years.
Again, please accept my deepest sympathy. I will continue to pray for you all.
Sincerely,
David M. Boddicker
Classmate of Ann
Dale Torpey
12/27/2011
I was sorry to hear of Lee's death. I have tried to look him up in Vinton in the last few years and was not aware he had moved to Des Moines.
Lee was the reason that I got a job in banking. He gave me a very good reference in 1971 when I got out of the U.S. Navy. I always admired Lee and he was very good to me and my family when he was a loan officer in the bank in Vinton.
I have had a very good career in banking and I will always be indebted to Lee for that. I recently was elected President of the Community Bankers of Iowa and in my acceptance speech I told of how Lee got me into banking and how we all needed mentors like Lee.
Again I am sorry to hear of your loss, but know that he made a difference in a lot of lives and mine was one of those.
Sincerely,
Dale Torpey
Washington, IA
Vicki (Hanson) Buescher
12/27/2011
Dear Shirley, Lynn, Ann, Bill and family, So sorry for each of you at this sad time of loss. I know you will all miss Lee in so many special ways. He has been such a good friend to my folks over the years. Know you are in my prayers. Love, Vicki
Rosemary Boisen
12/27/2011
Shirley, Ann, Lynn and Bill - my sincere sympathies to your whole family. Lee was a great friend, co-worker (actually he was my boss), and local business leader. We were all better for having him around.
I will never forget the day Lee put dark raisons behind a little lamb I had on my desk for Easter. Several customers saw it and had a really good laugh about it before I realized what all the humor was about. I was thinking everyone was just having a great day - and they were. Always with a smile I remember Lee.
Rosemary Boisen, Vinton, Iowa.
Rick and Betsy Fischer Hadley
12/27/2011
Shirley and Family-
We enjoyed our on the street visits through the many years
and through varied career moves. Lee was a good visitor.
You all have our sympathy. Thank you Lynn for your conversations.
It helped be that " tie that binds".