Cecelia Benda

CECELIA PROKES WAS BORN JULY 2, 1914 IN JACKSON COUNTY, MINNESOTA TO PARENTS JOSEPH AND ANNA (CIHAK) PROKES. SHE WAS UNITED IN MARRIAGE TO JOHN BENDA IN JACKSON, MN, ON OCTOBER 28, 1934. CECELIA LOVED THE SOUNDS , COLORS, AND SMELLS OF NATURE. EVERY WAKING DAY SHE EXPERIENCED THE START OF ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY TO ENJOY. HER CHILDREN REMEMBER HER READING TO THEM THE POETRY THAT SHE LOVED OF ROBERT FROST, BUT THE BEST MEMORIES WE HAVE ARE OF THE SMELLS THAT CAME FROM THE KITCHEN. SHE LOVED TO COOK AND BAKE AND THE SMELL OF THE FRESH BREAD THAT PERMATED THROUGH THE HOUSE IS ONE SMELL THAT HER CHILDREN WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER. EVERY HOLIDAY WAS UNFORGETABLE BY THE SPECIAL ACCENTS SHE PLACED AND BY THE JOY SHE BROUGHT TO EACH AND EVERY GUEST THAT WAS WELCOMED INTO HER HOME. A LOVING, CARING MOTHER TO NINE CHILDREN WHO SHE TAUGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF ROOTS, BUT EVEN MORE SO THE IMPORTANCE OF WINGS TO EXPERIENCE THE EXCITEMENT THAT LIFE CAN OFFER. CECELIA AS A CHILD WOULD WATCH THE PLANES IN THE SKY AND KNEW THAT ONE DAY SHE TOO WOULD TRAVEL THE WORLD. HER TRAVELS TOOK HER TO EXCAVATING MAYAN RUINS IN SOUTH AMERICA IN HER 70'S THEN TO WALK THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA AT AGE 80, AND TO EXPERIENCE THE WONDERS OF EUROPE, MORROCO, AND MEXICO. HOLIDAYS WERE A SPECIAL TIME AND EACH CHRISTMAS SHE LOVINGLY WOULD PLACE THE RED STAR ON THE TREE THAT SHE CALLED THE DEPRESSION STAR IT WAS A REMINDER THAT TO APPRECIATE WHAT WE HAVE IS TO REMEMBER WHERE WE CAME FROM. HER STRESS RELIEVER WAS IN TENDING HER EXTRAORDINARY GARDENS AND LOVINGLY CARING FOR HER 39 ROSE BUSHES. FOR WHATEVER SHE DID, SHE EXCELED, AND INDEED BLOOMED WHERE SHE WAS PLANTED. SHE IS SURVIVED BY HER CHILDREN AND THEIR SPOUSES, DAVE GINNIE BENDA OF EXCELSIOR SPRINGS,MO, GREG LAVONNE BENDA OF MADISON, SD, DENNIS DIANE BENDA OF ST. JAMES, TOM BENDA OF MT. LAKE, MARC BENDA OF VALLEJO, CA, BOBBI SIEBERT OF SAN MARCOS, CA, JAN DARRELL KENT OF PULLMAN, WA, MARGUERITE AL REVERS OF OMAHA, NE, GERRIE DENNIS BAARSON OF RICHLAND, MI, 15 GRANDCHILDREN, 16 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN AND 5 GREAT-GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN. SHE IS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HER HUSBAND, SISTERS ELEANOR, ANGELINE, ROSE ANN AND BROTHER IVAN.