Ila Mae (Luken) Benedict

Ila Mae (Luken) Benedict, 87, passed away, Monday, March 1, 2021.

Ila was born October 24, 1933, at home, to Emil and Agnes (Knutson) Luken in Larkin Valley and was baptized, May 6, 1934, at Zion (West) Lutheran Church in Blair. She was confirmed June 27, 1947, at Trempealeau Valley Lutheran Church. Ila graduated from Blair High School in May of 1951, and married Vilas Benedict, December 19,1951, at Blair First Lutheran Parsonage. They were blessed with four children. She & Vilas were married 49 years. They bought and farmed the Benedict Homestead in Trump Coulee until they moved to Blair in 1996. Ila worked at Grand View Nursing Home as a cook for 17 years, and provided home healthcare for members of the community for many years.

She was a member of Blair Lutheran Church and a former member of WELA, and its Circle; also Grand View Auxiliary. She loved watching & feeding the birds, taking care of her flowers, spending time with her family and grandchildren, cooking & baking for them and others, enjoyed watching the Green Bay Packers & the Wisconsin Badgers. She collected plates, cups, saucers & spoons from various states.

Ila is survived by four children: Susan (Giloy), Eau Claire; Jeffrey (Joann) Merrill; Steven (Rayma), Dripping Springs TX; Michael (Kristy) Blair; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one sister, Bernice Evenson, Plover; two sisters-in-law: Carol Benedict, Blair, and Lillian Luken, Minneapolis MN; two special nieces: Terry Knabb and Penny Johnson; and special nephew, Jerome Johnson, who made their home with us for several years and remains a part of our family; also, other beloved nieces and nephews and special neighbors and friends.

Ila was preceded in death by her husband, Vilas; her parents, Emil & Agnes Luken; brothers: Alvin, Lloyd and Lester; sister, Elsie; son-in-law, Dale Giloy; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Levin & Janice Benedict, Freeman & Gladys Benedict, Aymaar & Vivian Axness, Merrill Strawn, Mary Lou Luken, John Evenson; and a great-granddaughter, Savannah Hill.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 13, 2021. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., followed by a private funeral service at 11:00 a.m., for family members, at the First Lutheran Church in Blair. Burial will follow the funeral services at Resthaven Cemetery.

Masks are required as well as social distancing due to COVID.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Trempealeau County Humane Society or St. Croix Hospice.

Coulee Region Cremation Group is assisting the family.