Marguerite Benedett

OBITUARYMARGUERITE ALICE MICHEL BENEDETTMarguerite Alice Michel Benedett, 91 of St. Charles, died Monday, December 24, 2012 at Golden Living Center in St. Charles. In her own words.."I was born on April 3, 1921 (4.3.21) thousands of miles away from Minnesota on the shores of the Caribbean sea to missionary parents, Rev. Eugene L.and Anna L. (Wiggle) Michel serving in Bluefields, Nicaragua, CA. The water lapped at the back door of the Bluefields Moravian Church where I was baptized. At age 2 we returned to the U.S. living briefly at Allentown, PA then in West Salem, IL at the home of my grandfather, F.J.Michel. In 1924-25 my father pastored Berea Moravian Church, St. Charles, MN. Because of my grandparents health we returned to West Salem, IL before moving back to St. Charles in 1931. I attended St. Charles High School until my father was called to Northfield, MN Moravian Church in 1938. It was my senior year so I graduated from Northfield High School in 1939. In high school I was active in chorus, band, drama and was an honor student. In 1940 I clerked at Drake's Variety Store. In 1941 I attended St. Olaf College and transferred to Kahler School of Nursing in 1942. During this time I was going with Carl Benedett, Jr of St. Charles. He was drafted into the Army in 1942. We planned to get married while he was on furlough. Instead, he was sent without furlough to Pittsburgh, CA Replacement Depot awaiting overseas orders. So his cousin, Grace Schwager and I took the train out to CA. We were married at the base chapel on July 3, 1943 with Carl's cousins, Lawrence & Meta (Wollin) Lewis (Lewiston & Bethany, MN natives) present. Within a month Carl was sent to the South Pacific. On April 13, 1944 our son, John Michel, was born. I lived with my folks until they retired then John and I moved to an apartment in Rochester, MN until Carl was discharge in November 1945. After his mother died on April 1, 1946 we moved in with his father at 1160 Richland Ave., St.Charles, MN where we spent 56 years together before Carl's passing on November 3, 1999. On May 17, 1948 our daughter, Teresa Anne, was born. In 1955 I trained under Miss Hattie Boyd for 9 months without pay to become librarian at the St. Charles Public Library. I served from 1956-1971 and then later returned as Assistant Librarian from 1978-1993 until retiring. I belonged to the Berea Moravian Church serving as Sunday School and Vacation Bible School superintendent and teacher, choir member and director, Women's Fellowship and church accompanist at times. I belonged to the VFW Auxiliary, Winona County Historical Society and helped with Meals on Wheels and the Little Red Schoolhouse on the Winona County Fairgrounds." Marguerite is survived by her son, John Benedett, and wife, Mary, of Gulf Shores, AL & Hayward, WI; Teresa Benedett-Farmer and husband, Larry, of Englewood, CO; 10 grandchildren, Kristen (John) Karpinsky, Susan (Craig) Ferguson, Rebecca Henry, Connie (Jeff)Barnes, Barbara (Corey) Allen; Kathryn (Steve) Wendt; Michel (Whitney) Benedett; Angela (Tye) Willis; Nathan (Lisa) Richter; Sarah (Aaron) Irey; 25 great grandchildren; and 1 great great grandchild, her sister-in-law, Winifred Michel, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl John Elmer Benedett, Jr., her parents, two brothers, and three sisters. Viewing is from 5-8 pm, Friday, December 28 at Hoff Funeral Home, St. Charles, MN. Funeral Service is 10 am Saturday, December 29 at Berea Moravian Church, St. Charles, MN with the Reverend Franklin C. Jones officiating; Interment and lunch immediately following. Hoff Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials are preferred to Building Fund, Berea Moravian Church, PO Box 402, St. Charles, MN 55972. Please share a memory of Marguerite, sign her online guestbook and view her video tribute when it becomes available at www.hofffuneral.com.
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/359756