Rodger Patterson

Rodger married Isabelle Leitch on 27 Sep 1889 in Canada. Isabelle was born about 1834; died on 22 Mar 1913 in Grant, Huron County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Isabelle married Archibald Fletcher on 27 Sep 1889 in Canada. Archibald was born about Feb 1852 in Scotland; died in May 1921 in Grant Township, Huron County, Michigan; was buried in McTaggart Cemetery, Sheridan Township, Huron County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Michigan Marriage index shows her as a daughter of Rodger Patterson.

Bessie married Hector L. McDermott on 5 Oct 1893 in Grant, Huron County, Michigan. Hector (son of Hugh Carson McDermott and Margaret McLean) was born on 18 Oct 1866 in South Bruce, Bruce, Ontario, Canada; died on 24 Feb 1922 in Santa Ana, Orange County, California. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Bob Benkelman wrote that his mother Isabel "was the daughter of Captain Archie Fletcher, a Great Lakes ship's captain & Isabelle Patterson, a beautiful , yet neurotic Canadian. Isabel's life was completely entwined with that of her identical twin, who died at the age of three."

Cass City Chronicle
Wednesday, November 10, 1993
Page Eight

Isabel Benkelman

Mrs. Isabel Benkelman, 98, of Cass City, died Nov. 3 at the Caro Community Hospital.

Isabel Fletcher was born Oct. 25, 1895 in Huron County. She married Harold L. Benkelman in 1918. He predeceased her in 1981.

She is survived by 2 sons, William and wife Barbara of Cass City, and Robert and wife Lorraine of Caro; 6 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

Cremation has taken place. Interment will be in the Elkland Cemetery, Cass City.

Expressions of rememberance may be made to the Tuscola County Medical Care Facility where Mrs. Benkelman had been a resident for several years.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)

Isabel married Harold "Sime" Leroy Benkelman on 14 Sep 1918 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. Harold (son of Benjamin Franklin Benkelman, Sr. and Wilhelmina "Minnie" Johanna Friederika Jesse) was born on 27 Nov 1897 in St. Francis, Cheyenne County, Kansas; died on 8 Apr 1981 in Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

When her father died in 1922, she was listed as "Miss Belle McDermott, teacher in Greenville school." She is listed as Belle McDermott GRISET on the California Death Index.

Notes:

He registered for the draft during World War I in Santa Ana, California, and was working at a Sugar Factory. He was shown as tall, of medium build, with gray eyes and dark hair. When his father died in 1922, he was noted as attending the Polytechnic school of Engineering at Oakland.

Notes:

He is buried near his grandparents, Ben F. and Minnie Benkelman. The tombstone inscription reads, "Infant son of H.L. and I. Benkelman, 1922." Robert Fletcher Benkelman reports that his parents had also named their first son Robert, and that he died of pneumonia.

Notes:

Bob Benkelman had the following rememberances about his parents early life, and his own birth.

""You'll be ready to deliver around September first", the Doctor advised in early 1926. Dad and Mother had lost a boy named Robert to pneumonia in 1921. He had lived to be three months old.

Mother was known for worrying. If there was nothing to worry about, she worred about that. Isabel was the daughter of Captain Archie Fletcher, a Great Lakes ship's captain and Isabelle Patterson, a beautiful , yet neurotic Canadian. Isabel's life was completely entwined with that of her identical twin, who died at the age of three.

The summer of 1926 in Sandusky, Michigan was an especially hot one. In late August, huge with this person and frenzied, she finally discarded her maternity clothes. Threw them in the trash is what she did and confined her daily attire to a loose bathrobe. She called Aunt Vera, her older brothers wife, affectionately known as "Ooftie" to come stay with her during the final days. "Ooftie" was an RN.

Perhaps reluctant to leave a warm comfortable place, I didn't arrive until October first. At a healthy eleven pounds, ten ounces, Mother's worries could focus elsewhere. I was born at home, what doctor attended, I don't ever recall learning. Mother was nearly 31 years old, Dad was a month away from 28. They had a home beside the Studebaker garage that they owned and operated since the early 20's. Dad was a mechanic, salesman and manager. Mother made regular trips to South Bend, Indiana on the train to drive back with new Studebakers.

The long awaited arrival of Robert Fletcher Benkelman could not have brought enough happiness to offset what was to happen next. However Dad was in an auto smash-up which broke his back and in ensuing months almost killed him. The Studebaker garage was completely destroyed by fire along with their home located directly beside it. They lost everything except the clothes they were wearing and there was no insurance. Nobody talked much about it over the years and some photographs of the disaster complete my information.

It was "start-over" time and on October 23, 1928 Brother, William Donald Benkelman weighed in at a more normal density. They were now in Royal Oak, Michigan. Father was equipment maintenance foreman for the E. B Schwaderer Construction Company. Roads and Highways in Michigan were being paved with concrete and Cass City native, Schwaderer was paving a big share of them."

The Striffler-Benkelman Broadcast, Vol. 7, September 4, 1944, noted that Robert Benkelman was an apprentice reserve of the V-12 units, U.S.N.R., Mt. Pleasant.

The September 6, 1948 issue of the STRIFFLER BENKELMAN BROADCAST, noted that Bob and his brother Bill were Cruise Directors, Bob on the South American and Bill on the North American.

The September 1, 1952 issue of the same periodical, reported that he was announcing from Radio Station WBCM, Bay City, and resided with his family at 501 N. Sheridan. The 1962 issue of the Broadcast reported he had opened a Radio Station, W.K.Y.O, 1360 k.c., in Caro, Michigan. In Volume 25, dated September 6, 1965, it was reported that "The Robert Benkelman family purchased the G.A. Striffler estate appropriatedly in Cass City's Centennial year. They moved on August 1, 1965."

Bob's obituary follows:

Robert F. Benkelman, who worked to develop radio broadcasting in the Thumb, established WKYO in Caro and helped many young local announcers launch their careers, died Friday at St. Mary's Medical Center in Saginaw from complications of pulmonary fibrosis. He was 79. Born in Sandusky on Oct. 1, 1926 to Harold L. and Isabel (Fletcher) Benkelman, he was raised in Cass City, served in the U.S. Navy and graduated from Michigan State with a communications degree in 1950. He married Lorraine B. Smith September 30, 1950, in Kalamazoo. After working as an announcer at WFYC in Alma, WILS in Lansing and WBCM in Bay City, Bob and Chuck Anthony formed a group of investors to start the Water Wonderland Broadcasting Company in the mid-1950s and went on the air as WWBC. He later sold his interest in WWBC and founded the Tuscola Broadcasting Company with James McCoy, going on the air as WKYO 1360 in Caro in 1962. He started WKYO-FM 104.9 in the 1980's, later changing the call letters to WIDL, which now broadcasts on 92.1. Mr. B,' as he called himself on the air, did every job at his stations, from custodial work to writing ad spots to overall management. He felt that small-town radio should be local in nature, giving the public the news of the community, from lost animals to a trip to the Thumb by the president of the U.S. As small-town radio stations are also starting places for young announcers, many of the successful radio and TV people in this area were helped and taught by Bob at WKYO and WIDL. He and his company belonged to the National Association of Broadcasters, the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, the Radio Advertising Bureau, the Caro Chamber of Commerce and the Cass City Chamber of Commerce. A veteran of the U. S. Navy (1944-1946), Bob in 1999 volunteered to help restore the SS American Victory Mariners Memorial and Museum in Tampa, Florida. He was a published writer, with several articles in the local press in Florida. Bob loved working on and operating all manner of transportation - planes, boats and automobiles. During the 1970s, he obtained his pilot's license and owned several planes. He also was an avid boater and amateur auto mechanic. He took physical fitness seriously, regularly lifting weights and doing four-mile fast-walks -- and rejecting offers of car rides from passing friends. He was a member of the Rotary Club, the Caro Moose Lodge, the Caseville Eagles Club and the Elks Club of Ruskin, Florida. He was a life member of the Michigan State University Alumni Association. He is survived by his wife, Lorraine; daughters: Carole Benkelman and her husband Kevin Larke of St. Johns, Catherine and her husband Charles Brooks of Sheridan, Arkansas, Susan Benkelman and her husband Ken Fireman of Bethesda, Maryland; grandchildren Jason Tetreau, Carrie Tetreau, Andrew Larke, Keith Brooks, Steven (Amber) Brooks, Eric Brooks, Catherine Fireman, Alexandra Fireman; and great granddaughter, Faith Brooks. He is preceded in death by his brother, William Benkelman. A graveside service will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, September 26 with Virginia Leipprandt, Jim Joslin and Ken Fireman officiating. Interment will take place in Elkland Township Cemetery. Family and friends may share memories, prayers and stories with the family at www.kranzfuneralhome.com. Memorials may be made to the Rawson Memorial Library, 6495 Pine St., Cass City, MI 48726. Arrangements by Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City, Michigan Debra L. Kranz (989) 872-2195

Robert married Lorraine Bessie "Smitty" Smith on 30 Sep 1950 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Lorraine (daughter of Clarence William Smith and Cora Susan Page) was born on 12 Feb 1931 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan; died on 15 Jun 2012 in Caseville, Huron County, Michigan; was buried on 22 Jun 2012 in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
June 17, 1938
Page 4

On Friday afternoon, Billie BENKELMAN, Tommy JACKSON, and Joanne BIGELOW, all about nine years of age, thought it would be great fun to follow the Ford Caravan and ride their bikes from Cass City to Caro. Tommy and Joanne were picked up at Ellington and taken into Caro by auto, (not because they were tired, Tommy and Joanne say). Billie paddled on to Caro, but did not refuse a ride back to Cass City later in the day.

The STRIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST, Volume 15, September 1, 1952, noted that William D. Benkelman was graduated from Michigan State College on June 10. It further reported that he his commission June 8 as second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He was to report to Fort Sill, Oklahoma in August. Volume 16 of the same periodical noted he was stationed in Japan. The 1962 issue reported he had moved with his family to Chicago, Illinois, where he was Vice President and General Sales Manager of Cadillac Plastics.

Cass City Chronicle
Thursday, December 24, 1964

B. Benkelman Promoted by Plastics Company

William D. Benkelman has been named Vice-president (Sales) of Cadillac Plastic and Chemical Company. He had been distributor sales manager since 1958. Benkelman will coordinate the company's activities in the areas of overseas sales and development of the O.E.M. (original equipment manufacturer) market. He joined Cadillas Plastic in 1956 as director of factory-sales liasion at its Detroit headquarters. In 1957, he established the company's Cincinnati branch, then in 1962, was promoted to the Illinois branch, headquartered in Chicago. Benkelman is a graduate of Michigan State University and attended the University of Utah Law Schoo. He is the author of numerous articles and papers on plastics. He and his wife, Barbara, and their three children live at 6309 Church Street.

Obituary from THE SAGINAW NEWS

William D. Benkelman traveled around the world as a businessman, but he always said that his families centennial farm in this thumb community was his favorite place on earth. Benkelman, a retired plastics executive and onetime Bloomfield Hills resident died from Parkinson's disease at his Cass City home. He was 73. He was born in Royal Oak and graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelors degree in 1952. Benkelman was a captain in the U.S. Army and a veteran of the Korean War, where as a lieutenant he received a bronze star for meritorius service. His career in the plastics business began in 1958 when he joined the Cadillac Plastic and Chemical Company in Troy as a salesman assigned to generate new business for the startup company. Former colleagues describe him as a determined visionary who saw the enginering and manufacturing potential for plastics even while others argued it was nothing more than a cheap substitute for metal and glass. Benkelman became chairman of the company in 1984. When he retired in 1988, Cadillac was the worlds number one distributor of semi-finished plastic shapes. General Electric company owns it now. After retirement, Benkelman and his wife Barbara moved to Cass City to live on the farm that had remained in the family for 100 years. He renovated the old farmhouse into a comfortable home. Barbara Benkelman died in 1995. The funeral will begin at 2 pm Sunday in the Presbyterian church on Church Street in Cass City with burial at the Elkland Township Cemetery.

(Courtesy of Alvin Benkelman)

(Medical):Parkinson's Diease

William married Barbara Ell on 2 May 1952 in East Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan. Barbara was born on 17 May 1932 in Mineola, Nassau County, New York; died on 1 Feb 1995 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]