[968] !Burial: Salem E.U.B. Church Cemetery
_Benjamin BRIGGS ____
| (1791 - ....)
_Benjamin BRIGGS ____|
| (1812 - 1866) |
| |_____________________
|
|
|--Rose A. BRIGGS
| (1845 - 1926)
| _John WATERS ________+
| | (1780 - 1863)
|_Mary WATTERS _______|
(1811 - ....) |
|_Jane MORELAND ______+
(1786 - ....)
[478] !Birth: Either this birthdate or Frank's is wrong.
[1473]
Velda worked at the Kiowa County Extension Service for 36 years. She drove a mail route taking over Bill's route when he passed away.
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Velda Benner Honored at Dinner
The Kiowa County Courthouse employees honored Velda Benner for nearly 36 years of loyal, dedicated service at a luncheon held Thurs., June 4, 1987, at noon in the courthouse meeting room. About 40 employees and guests were present to share in the recognition, including Velda's daughter, Pat Barber of Loveland, grand-daughter Melanie Haskell and great grandchildren Shea and Matt, and sisters Alma Robertson, Chivington and Ruth Koch, Eads.
George Ellicott, Extension Agent, presented her with a gift certificate on behalf of all the courthouse employees. Leonard Pruett, Southeast Area Cooperative Extension Director, Lamar, was also on hand to present a gift from the Prowers County extension staff. A large decorated cake provided by Extension Secretary Pam Weirich was enjoyed at the close of the program. A centerpiece of flowers was provided by George and Dorothy Ellicott.
Velda Benner's retirement date was Jan. 1, 1987, following surgery and extensive hospitalization. She was employed as Extension Office Secretary in March, 1951, and had served continuously in that position since that time. Her friends and former co-workers are pleased to see her doing well and wish her the best of health and happiness in her retirement.
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The Kiowa County Press - Obit for Velda Marie Benner, 82
Velda Marie Benner, daughter of Ira Lee and Bertie May Duggan Downs, was born in Pawnee County, Kansas, July 21, 1911. Velda passed away following heart surgery at the Memorial hospital in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the age of 82.
On March 17, 1917, Velda's family moved all of their belongings and livestock by train to Chivington, Colorado. Her Father homesteaded 12 miles north of Chivington. She attended the Rush Creek School until her senior year. She graduated from the Eads School in 1930. She was united in marriage to William Calvin Benner, July 4, 1934, at the First Christian Church in Eads. To this union were born two children; William Lee and Patricia Louise. Bill and Velda managed the Eads Theatre for several years. She was also the first cook at the Weisbrod Memorial Hospital. She worked for Vern and Nora Nordick at the V & N Cafe, set type for Jimmy and Edith LaVelle at the Kiowa County Press and was head cook at the Eads School. In 1950, she was hired as secretary for the Kiowa County Extension Service. After 36 years of service she retired in 1986. At the time of Bill's death, he was serving as a Star Route mail carrier, she assumed that position also until 1992.
Velda was a member of the First Christian Church in Eads and served many years as the pianist. September 4, 1945, she joined the Eastern Star Bright Star Chapter #106. In 1985 she affiliated with the Lamar Chapter #112.
Velda was a true and loving wife and mother. Her greatest joys were her family, friends and playing the piano. She was always lending a hand to anyone.
Survivors include son; William Lee Benner, Greeley; daughter, Patricia Louise Roper and husband Chris Roper, Loveland; five grandchildren, Melanie Lea Haskell, husband Tom, Wiley; William Bart Benner, Colorado Springs; Tricia Jo Ouellette, husband Ron, Vallejo, California; Gregory David Barber, Lamar; John Patrick Benner, Loveland. Four great grandchildren: Shae Lea Haskell and Matthew Ray Haskell, Wiley, Colorado; Miranda Chalene Barber, Garden City, Kansas; Brandon Tyler Ouellette, Vallejo, California. Sisters: Helen Gardner, husband Joe, Keystone Heights, Florida; Ruth Koch, husband Ralph, Eads; Alma Robertson, husband Roy, Chivington. Sister-in-Laws: Gayetta Foxworthy, Hazel Downs, Eads, Colorado. Cousin: Vernon Duggan, Denver, Colorado.
Other surviving relatives: Kay Thomas, Amarillo, Texas; Elizabeth Allen, Aurora; Debra Macauley, Colorado Springs; Victor and Holly Gurrero and family, Greeley, Colorado; Wes and Gail Barber, Lamar, Colorado, together with numerous nieces and nephews.
Velda was proceeded in death by her parents, husband William Calvin Benner - May 11, 1980, sister Verle Broadbooks, brothers; Basil, Ralph (Rusty), Buryl and Wayne Downs.
Funeral services for Velda Marie Benner Downs were held on Wednesday, March 16, 1994 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church of Eads, Colorado. Evangelist Bill Breland and Rev. J. A. Stapleton officiated the services. Sue Ramsay and Charlotte Woelk provided the prelude and postlude music on the organ/piano. Sylvia Weeks was the vocalist singing: "Whispering Hope", "The Lord's Prayer", "How Great Thou Art", "It Is Well With My Soul" and "Eagle When She Flies". Following the services at the church the committal services were held at the Eads Cemetery in Eads, Colorado. Serving as casket bearers were Velda's grandsons: William Bart Benner, Gregory David Barber, John Patrick Barber, Tommy Ray Haskell, Matthew Ray Haskell and David Craig Roper. Serving as Honorary Casketbearers were: Wes Barber, Roy Robertson, Ralph Koch, Vernon Duggan, George Ellicott, Samuel Rehm, Joe Gardner, Willard Nordick and Larry Nordick.
Visitation and funeral services for Velda M. Benner were under the direction of Brown Funeral Home in Eads, Colorado.
_John M JEFFRIES ____+
| (1862 - 1928)
_Alfred S Cyrus JEFFRIES _|
| (1898 - 1919) m 1917 |
| |_Lydia E JONES ______+
| (1867 - 1924)
|
|--Edwin Alfred JEFFRIES
| (1918 - 1969)
| _James Knox WILEY ___
| | (1868 - 1939) m 1892
|_Edith J. WILEY __________|
(1894 - 1974) m 1917 |
|_Ella Mae SHOOP _____+
(1875 - 1959) m 1892
__
|
_Andrew RILEY _______|
| (1791 - 1840) m 1817|
| |__
|
|
|--Joseph RILEY
| (1835 - ....)
| __
| |
|_____________________|
|
|__
[1382] !Burial: Possumtown Cemetery
_Jesse RUTTER _______+
| (1809 - 1888) m 1837
_William Scott RUTTER _____|
| (1851 - 1911) m 1871 |
| |_Phoebe BOOHER ______
| (1816 - 1881) m 1837
|
|--Sylvester B. RUTTER
| (1882 - 1882)
| _____________________
| |
|_Catherine Elizabeth DUNN _|
(1855 - 1934) m 1871 |
|_____________________
_Johann Michael SHUPP ____+
| (1773 - 1847) m 1796
_John SHOOP __________________|
| (1802 - 1872) m 1820 |
| |_Jane REYHER _____________
| (1779 - 1816) m 1796
|
|--Jane SHOOP
| (1834 - 1850)
| _John Peter KLINGENSMITH _+
| | (1755 - 1818)
|_Jane Christina KLINGENSMITH _|
(1801 - 1860) m 1820 |
|__________________________