Mrs. Margaret L. Benham's Obituary
Mrs. Margaret L. Benham, aged 100, died Tuesday, February 20, 2014 in Novi, Michigan. She was born on November 9, 1913, in Detroit, Michigan, to Newton Swank Hoerle and Margaret Holmes Rush Hoerle. She attended schools in North Muskegon and Muskegon, but graduated from Johnstown (PA) Upper Yoder High School in 1933. Returning to Muskegon, she attended Howell Business School and worked as a payroll clerk for Standard Automotive Parts. On August 5, 1939 she married Guy Maxwell Benham. They soon became a family with five daughters. In 2003 they celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. Max died on April 4, 2004.
In 1946 Max went to work in China for UNRRA, leaving her with four children for a year and a half. In 1950 Margaret and Max, along with their 5 daughters, lived in India for a year and a half when Max had a Fulbright Grant to teach at a technical school outside Delhi. After her daughters were all in school, Margaret achieved her dream of becoming a teacher. She studied at Muskegon Community College, then Western Michigan University, where she earned a BA, and ultimately a MS degree. Her first teaching job was at the one room Zoll School in Ravenna. After that school closed she taught at Hile School, then served as a teacher of home bound and disabled children for Muskegon Intermediate School District. She was active in the Michigan Education Association.
After her retirement in 1979, Margaret and Max travel extensively, to China, India, Jamaica, Australia and many winters in Mexico. Many of their trips were with their children and grandchildren. In those years she was active in American Association of University Women, Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel, Michigan Education Association-Retired, Sigma ABE (WMU Sorority) and the Greater Muskegon Women's Club. In 1990 she was named "Mother of the Year" for Muskegon County. Margaret was a member of the McGraft Memorial Church. After her beloved husband died, Margaret moved to the Fox Run Retirement Community in Novi, Michigan.
Margaret treasured her family and friends. She is survived by: five daughters, Judy (Steve) Weinstein, Barbara (Bill) Fried, Carol (Tom) Homon, Sue (Charles) Clack, and Kathy (Jack) Grosswiler); her friend and "adopted" son, Hugh (Shelly) Zeng; 15 grandchildren, Brant (Barbara) Weinstein, Anna (Zeph) Landau, Marcus (Cheryl) Fried, Kristina (Jakub) Stefka, Jason Fried, Rebecca (Dan) Whalen, Jim (Julie) Homon, Patrick (Beth) Homon, Todd Homon, Kim (John) Celi, Stephanie (Marc) Berzansky, Jennifer Grosswiler, Johnny (Brittany) Grosswiler, Andrea and Lynsey Zeng; 24 great grandchildren; her nephew Marvin (Theresa) Hoerle; nieces, Nancy (Gilbert) Castellanos and Carolyn Dean; her brothers-in-law, John (Emily) Benham and Wayne Benham; and many relatives and friends. She was predeceased by her brother Franklin M. Hoerle, who died in WW II and an infant granddaughter, Amy Lee Grosswiler.
Her FUNERAL SERVICE will be held at McGraft Memorial Church, Muskegon, on Saturday, March 1 at 2 pm. A reception will follow in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to McGraft Memorial Church, 1617 Palmer Street, Muskegon, MI 49441 or Greater Muskegon Women's Club, 280 W. Webster Ave., Muskegon, MI 49440, attn: Lindy Olechnowicz, President. Share memories with the family at their on-line guest book at www.sytsemafh.com. Arrangements by The Walburn Chapel, 1547 W. Sherman Blvd., (231) 759-8565
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