HILDA BENZEL
Hilda Benzel, 95, passed away at Warm Beach Health Care Center Dec. 29, 2009. Memorial services will be held at Beachwood Lounge, Warm Beach Senior Community, Jan. 17, 1:30 p.m.
Hilda was the third of eight children born to German immigrant parents, Philipp and Katherine Schafer, on Sept. 26, 1914 in Portland, Ore. She married Fred Benzel, Jr. June 17, 1933, in Hardin, Montana. Four children were born to them: Lawrence, Carol, Donald and Linda. The Benzels farmed in Montana, South Dakota and Idaho.
Never employed outside the home, Hilda took great pleasure in working alongside her husband, often his “hired hand” during harvest of sugar beets. As many women of her generation did, she grew a large garden, no matter where they lived, preserving food and baking eight loaves of bread every week as long as her children were at home. She was cook, chauffer and nurse; veterinarian, “cow chaser” and milker, baby chick “mother” and sheep feeder. She sewed her daughters’ clothing as well as her own, made lye soap for laundry, took part in “quilting bees” and belonged to Home Extension Club. Hilda’s social life revolved around her church where she sang in choir, held offices in Ladies Aid and taught Sunday School. She was a 4-H leader for a few years, and loved to read as well as crochet. She adored her mother in-law, and once a week took eggs, milk and cream from the farm to grandma who lived in town.
When Hilda and Fred retired to Milton-Freewater, Oregon in 1981, they became “snowbirds” to Arizona for 20 years, and their travels also took them to Europe, Hawaii, Alaska and several bus tours around the United States.
Fred passed away in 1999, and Hilda moved to the Warm Beach Senior Community in 2003, to be near her daughter Carol Schmidt.
She remained productive with her lifelong love of crocheting into her 95th year, making about a dozen potholders every week, which she donated to the Stanwood Food Bank.
Hilda was preceded in death by her husband, parents, a sister and five brothers.
Surviving are children Carol Schmidt of Stanwood, Lawrence (Marilyn) of Arizona, Don (Judi) of Idaho and Linda (Dick) Kroll of Oregon; 10 grandchildren including Kevin (Bonnie) and Kerry (Missy) Schmidt of Stanwood; Keith (Darlene) Schmidt, Mount Vernon; Kenneth (Charlotte) Schmidt, Morton, Wash., and Athena (Michael) Willard, Walla Walla; 20 greatgrandchildren and 14 greatgreat grandchildren; brother, Edward Schafer; 15 nieces and nephews; four sisters-inlaw and one-brother-in-law.
Cremation has taken place, and Hilda’s remains will be buried next summer beside her husband in Fairview Cemetery at Hardin, Montana.
Memorials may be made to the Stanwood-Camano Food Bank or to the charity of your choice.
The family extends appreciation to the staff at Cedar Court and the Health Care Center, for all the love and attention they lavished on Hilda. Their efforts will be long remembered.
