Lela M. Benson was born June 28, 1941, on a farm near Beaver Crossing to John and Elsie (Eicher) Troyer, the youngest of eight children, and went home to be with Jesus on Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, at Bryan East Medical Center in Lincoln at the age of 79.
As a young girl, she accepted Christ as her personal savior and was baptized at West Fairview Mennonite Church. Lela attended country school and later Milford High School and was a graduate of the class of 1959. On Sept. 23, 1961, she was united in marriage to Gary Benson at the West Fairview Mennonite Church. They were blessed with two daughters, Lynette and Tamara. Before her marriage, she was employed with Continental Trailways in Lincoln, but her true passion was providing daycare to many, many children for more than 33 years. She truly enjoyed raising her daycare children as if they were her own and has had lifelong connections with many of them. After retiring from daycare, she worked part-time at Sister Act in Milford. Over the past several years, she had spent countless hours volunteering for the Foster Care Closet and Macie’s Place, both in Lincoln. She was a member of the Beth-El Community Church. Lela’s family was the center of her life and she was a favorite aunt to many of her nieces and nephews.
Survivors include her husband of 59 years, Gary; daughters and sons-in-law, Lynette and Tod Allen of Crete and Tam and Fred Roth of Milford; seven grandchildren, Clairessa Allen and fiancé, Ryne Reeves of Lincoln, Andrew “AJ” Allen of Crete, Abigail Allen of Lincoln, Elizabeth Allen of Crete, Bryant and Sarah Roth of Clatonia, Taylor Roth of Lincoln and Ashley Roth of Seward; three great-grandchildren, Cooper, McKenna and Jameson Roth; brother, Lauren Troyer of Milford; sisters-in-law, Norma Jean Troyer and Barbara Troyer, both of Albany, Oregon, and Phyllis Troyer of Milford; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Marilyn and Alan Musil of Ravenna, Roger Benson of Grand Island, Sandra Benson, also of Grand Island, and Glenda and Bruce Rodabaugh of Marquette; nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Lela was preceded in death by her parents; brothers and sisters-in-law, Milton and Betty Troyer, Royden and Doreen Troyer, Stanley and Darlene Troyer, Cloy Troyer and Kenneth Troyer; sister and brother-in-law, Grace and Robert Roth; sister-in-law Verba Troyer; brother-in-law, Dennis Benson; parents-in-law, Gale and Helen Benson; nephews, Joe Troyer, Robert Roth Jr, Ricky Troyer and Tony Troyer; and nieces Paula Pickerill and Jeanie Rouse.
A funeral service was Dec. 4 at Beth El Community Church in Milford with interment at the Milford Mennonite Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested in care of the family for future designation. Condolences may be left for the family at www.lauberfh.com.
