Obit: Behnke, Velda  (1914 - 2010)

Contact: Audrey Roedl

Email: audero@charter.net

Surnames: Behnke, Knoop, Retzlaff, Zinthefer, Roehl

----Source: The Loyal TRG  (Loyal, Clark County. Wis  08 Dec 2010)

Behnke, Velda  (24 NOV 1914-04 DEC 2010)

Velda L. Behnke, 96, Loyal, died on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, at the Marshfield Care Center. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 8, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Loyal. Rev. Daniel Zimmerman officiated. Burial followed in the Loyal Lutheran Cemetery. Pallbearers were Joe Behnke, Ted Behnke, Andy Benhke, Dennis Roehl, Tayt Brostowitz, Tjaden Brostowitz, Bryce Harder, and Franklin Barlow.

Velda Lorraine Knoop was born on Nov. 24, 1914 in the town of  Lynn, rural Chili, the daughter of Louis and Laura (nee Retzlaff) Knoop. She was raised on the family farm and received her education in the Chili area, graduating from Granton High School in 1933. After completing high school, she worked in the Neillsville atea doing housework. She married Arthur Behnke on Oct. 24, 1935, at Zion Lutheran Church, town of Freemont. They farmed in the town of Lynn until moving to Milwaukee in 1950. She worked at Allis Chalmers Manufacturing until 1953. They moved back to Clark County and bought a farm just south of Loyal, and they farmed until 1970. She also worked at the Loyal Canning Company for a few years and then at the Star Lodge Motel, until the age of 75. Her husband, Art, died on March 9, 1996. She continued to reside in Loyal until entering the Marshfield Care Center in June 2001. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. She had many interests, but especially loved spending time with her family, baking, crossword puzzles, gardening and playing cards.

She will be dearly missed by her three children, Darlene Zinthefer, Marshfield, Velora (Lowell) Roehl, Loyal, and Kenneth (Mary Kay) Behnke, Loyal; 13 grandchildren; 123 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Irlene Wagner, Marshfield; and one brother-in-law, Harold Behnke, Milwaukee.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Art; one son, Duane Behnke; two great-grandchildren, Jordyn and Derek Roehl; one sister, Lylah Karl; two step-sisters, Lylah Seehafer and Lillian Handke; and one step brother, George Tjaden.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.

Cuddie Funeral Home, Loyal, assisted the family with arrangements.