BENKE


(Photograph from 1985)

Anna L. Benke, age 87, died Thursday, May 1, 1986.  Member of Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes, member of American Lutheran Church Women, member of Leon Valley Grange and member of Farm Bureau.  Mrs. Anna L. Benke is survived by: Her daughter and son-in-law, Verna Belle and Muriel Steubing; son and daughter-in-law, Raymond Clinton and Jerry Benke, all from San Antonio, Texas; sisters, Emma Bottriel of Sequin, Texas, Helen Coss of San Angelo, Texas; brothers, Harry Ahrens of San Antonio, Texas, Alfred Ahrens of San Antonio, Texas, and Edmond Ahrens of Norman, Oklahoma; 13 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.  Services Monday, May 5, 1986, at 10:00 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes with Rev. Gordon Kuenemann, Rev. Mark Lundquist, and Rev. Liz Lundquist officiating.  Interment will follow at Zion Cemetery.

Anna L. Ahrens Benke was a farmer's wife who helped with the daily chores.  Benke, 87, died Thursday.  She was born in Macdona and married Sam Benke on June 6, 1917.  They moved to his family farm at Helotes, which is now on the outskirts of San Antonio.  He died in 1969.  "She was a loving and caring person who was interested in her neighbors," said her daughter, Verna Belle Steubing of San Antonio. "She had many grandchildren and was helpful with them and was always there when her assistance was needed."  "She was active in the Zion Luthern Church of Helotes and in the Leon Valley Grange," she said.  "A good seamstress, she made her clothes in her younger days and made mine when I went to school.  She did other handwork, especially embroidery."  Those days were filled with family life and get-togethers with neighbors and relatives.  They used horses and buggies to get around.  Benke liked to play cards and dominoes, including forty-two, hi-fi, and Mexican dominoes.  She was a member of the Jolly Eight Bunco club and still enjoyed this game.  In her latter years, she joined the American Association of Retired Persons and went on some of their trips to Colorado and other sites in the United States.  She was a member of American Lutheran Church Women and the Farm Bureau.  Survivors are her daughter; a son, Raymond Clinton Benke of San Antonio; two sisters, Emma Bottriel of Seguin and Helen Coss of San Angelo; three brothers, Harry Ahrens and Alfred Ahrens, both of San Antonio, and Edmond Ahrens of Norman, Okla.; 13 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.  Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes with the Rev. Gordon Kuenemann, the Rev. Mark Lundquist and the Rev. Liz Lundquist, officiating.  Burial will be in Zion Cemetery No. 1.