Ruth Benke

MONTICELLO, IOWA Ruth Ann Benke, 77, of Monticello died Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, surrounded by her family at home in Onslow, Iowa. Visitation will be from 9:30 - 11 am Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Monticello. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 am Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Monticello with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Paul Baldwin will officiate. Ruth Ann was born April 3, 1940, in Dyersville the daughter of Herbert and Mary Germaine (Stronck) Westemeier. She graduated from Xavier High School and married Richard H. Benke on October 11, 1958, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Dyersville, Iowa. Together they moved to Monticello in 1963 and established RB Electronics in 1968 from which they retired in 2001. Survivors include her children: Rebecca Hoist of Dubuque, Russell (Denise) Benke of Onslow, and Rodney (Maria) Benke of Annandale, VA; 3 grandchildren: Richard Easterling and Ryan and Maya Benke; 2 Sisters-in-law, Gail Westemeier of Manchester and Mary Jo Benke of Ft Worth, TX; 2 brothers-in-law: Ronald (Linda) Benke and David (Mary) Benke all of Cascade, a cousin/step-sister, Mary (Richard) Lakeman of Dyersville, and many nieces and nephews. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dick in 2003, a son Randall in 1981, a grandson, John Randall Easterling in infancy; 2 sisters Eileen (Donald) Huberty and Norma (Red Wilson and Russ Pritchard) Pritchard, a brother, Dave Westemeier, brothers-in-law, Dennis Benke in infancy and Alan Benke, and a sister-in-law: Deanne (Lawrence Kemp) Manza.