Esther Selma Ackerman

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Thursday, February 14, 1980

Rites held for Esther Benkelman

Esther Selma Benkelman, 91, of Cass City died last Thursday at the Tuscola County Medical Care Facility in Caro after a brief illness.

She was born February 12, 1888, near Minden City, the daughter of William and Marie (Wittmer) ACKERMAN.

Miss Ackerman married Joseph A. Benkelman June 10, 1911 in Cass City. He died June 11, 1968.

Mrs. Benkelman was one of the oldest members of Salem United Methodist Church of Cass City. She was also a member of the Dorcas Circle of United Methodist Women.

She is survived by three nieces, Mrs. Gordon THOMAS of East Lansing, Mrs. J. Franklin BECK of Mt. Gilead, Ohi and Andrew BLODGET of Hurtford City, Indiana. One daughter, Fern Marie, preceded her in death.

Funeral services were conducted Monday morning from Little's Funeral Home, Cass City, with Rev. Eldred Kelley of Salem United Methodist church officiating. Burial was in Elkland cemetery.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)

(Research):Cass City Chronicle
July 31, 1958

......eleven members of the Class (of 1905 of Cass City High School) were present at the reunion Thursday. They were: Frances McBurney-Gravatt of Houston, TX; Cecil Krapf-Allen of Royal Oak, Jennie Ferguson-Doerr of Fostoria; Ethel Dodge-Rambo of Marlette; Mae Williamson-Marshall of Gagetown, and the following of Cass City; Mr. Auten, Mr. Schwaderer, Miss Adeline Gallagher, Jennie Leek-Hutchinson, Esther Ackerman-Benkelman and Mollie Ackerman-Lenzner....

Esther married Joseph A. Benkelman on 10 Jun 1911 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Joseph (son of Samuel G. Benkelman and Mary Striffler) was born on 5 Oct 1889 in Elkland Township, Tuscola County, Michigan; died on 11 Jun 1968 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Cass City, Michigan
Friday, February 10, 1928
Vol. 23, No. 23

Junior Class Lost Honor Student
Death of Fern M. Benkelman is mourned by a Large Circle of Friends

A death mourned by a large circle of friends and relatives and one of that greatly shocked the entire community was that of Miss Fern Marie Benkelman, only child of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Benkelman, who passed away unexpectedly shortly after 10 o'clock Thursday night, February 2, after a ten day illness with pneumonia. She was nearly 16 years of age, her birthday being March 27, 1912.

Fern was an honor student of the Cass City High School, her name appearing each year among those who won special honors in their monthly and semester standings. She was a member of the Junior Class, the Girls' Glee club, and president of the community club, a school organization. Twice she was elected to represent the local school in a statewide academic contest for the high school pupils, at the Central Normal at Mt. Pleasant, both years winning honors for her school.

Her activities in church work were also outstanding and made her a much admired and loved member of the Evangelical Sunday School, Junior choir, and Butzbach Missionary Circle. Fern served as an assistant pianist at this church, faithfully and efficiently.

Rev. C.F. Smith, pastor of the Evangelical church officiated at the funeral service which was held at the family residence Monday afternoon and attended by one of the largest companies of relatives and friends ever gathered at a similar occasion in this community. Members of the Junior class, numbering about 60, attended the services in a body, and bore the many beautiful floral tokens of affection to the Elkland cemetery where the burial services were held in the chapel.

Donald and Robert WALLACE, Lester BATTEL, Clark HELWIG, Maurice JOOS and Edward SCHWEGLER served as pallbearers.

Friends and relatives from a distance who attended the funeral were Mrs. William ACKERMAN of Hartford City, Ind.; Mr. and Mrs. Adolph WAHL, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. WAHL and son, Mr. and Mrs. Milton GILBERT, C. WAHL and Mr. and Mrs. Albert WAHL, all of Bad Axe; Henry BENDER and Mrs. Druit CAPLING of Caro; Rev. and Mrs. F.L. POHLY, Mr. and Mrs. John SCHWALM and Marjorie HESS, all of Sebewaing, Mr. and Mrs. Walter GRAICHEN, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur GETZE, and Albert HIRZEL, all of Forestville; Miss Marjorie SICKLES of Saginaw, Mrs. W.J. CARPENTER of Flint; Mr. and Mrs. Jas. BROWN of Pigeon; Mrs. Wm. SMITH and Albert and Miss Bertha YIETTER, all of Harbor Beach; Mr. and Mrs. Chas. KOSANKE and sons, Ralph and Donald of Pontiac.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)