Catherine Benke

Catherine Benke, age 76, of Perham , MN , died Tu esday, March 17, 2009 , at the Autumn Manor Senior Care, Perham.


Catherine, the daughter of Hugo Haack and Anna (Schwartz) Haack was born on Sept 7, 1932 , in Kimball , Nebraska . She was baptized at South Dix Lutheran Church and later was confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Stewartville , MN , in 1945. After graduating from Stewartville High School in 1950 she worked in the pathology and surgery departments of the Mayo Clinic. She met Jule Benke, and after he returned from the Korean War they were engaged in May of 1953, and were married in December of that year. Their marriage was blessed with four sons and they lived in Rochester until Jule's retirement, when they moved to Big Pine Lake , then later to Marion Lake in Perham.



Catherine is remembered for her wonderful influence on her boys and her faith, generosity, kindness, and caring. She painted beautiful oil paintings on canvas with a wide variety of subjects depicting wildlife, stills, and horses. She loved and cherished her eight beautiful grandchildren.



She was an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Corliss since 1986.



Surviving Catherine are four sons: Steve (Tammy), Mark (Mary), David (Johnna), and Jeffrey (Jennifer); eight grandchildren: Elaine and Amanda, Lauren and Tyler, Bennett and Westin, and Anna and Sarah; one sister, Laura Stoltenberg; two brothers: Henry Haack and Dennis Haack; as well as a wider circle of relatives and friends who mourn her death.



Catherine is preceded in death by her husband, Jule; her parents; and two brothers: Berdell and Marvin.



Memorials may be directed to St. John’s Lutheran Church , 49658 County Highway 53, Perham , MN , 56573 .