HESSTON -- Lela Ruth Wenger, 92 of Hesston, KS passed away at Schowalter Villa on January 26, 2022 after an extended illness.
Lela was born on August 7, 1929 to George Ezra Bentch and
Minnie Opal (McDavitt) Bentch in Lick Creek, Missouri. Lela was the third child
in a family of five children. She spent her childhood years living on the
family farm, attending Lick Creek elementary school and graduating from
Versailles High School in 1947. Lela married Paul Wenger on September 19, 1948
at Mt Zion Mennonite Church, Versailles, MO. Between the years of 1949-1960,
while living in MO, they were blessed with three daughters, Barbara, Twila and
Donna, and one son Dwayne.
In 1964 the Wenger Family moved to Hesston, KS and became
members of Hesston Mennonite Church and were active in the church for many
years. Lela spent her early married years raising their children until she
began working at Schowalter Villa in 1968. Lela served the Villa residents for
25 years, retiring in 1993. Many residents and their families were touched by
Lela?s special way of caring with compassion and love. Lela herself became a
resident at Schowalter Villa and several current employees told the family how
meaningful Lela had been to them in their beginning years working at the Villa.
In Lela?s early retirement years, she and Paul enjoyed traveling together and
took many trips visiting family and friends.
The joy of Lela?s life was her family. Lela loved to read
books to her grandchildren, and always had time for them to come visit at their
home. Lela was a wonderful cook and often had family over for delicious meals.
It was very special for Lela to make cookies with her granddaughters. Lela and
Paul always looked forward to visits from their grandsons who lived out of
state. Lela loved flowers and her family enjoyed seeing her flower and rock
gardens in the summer. As her grandchildren became older, she enjoyed attending
their school activities and sporting events. Lela had a strong influence on her
children and grandchildren?s spiritual lives. She spent many hours praying for
her family.
Lela and Paul celebrated 69 years of marriage before Paul
passed away. They have been blessed with many happy years together and were enriched
with the love of God and family. Throughout Lela?s life, her faith in God was
strong, which she passed on to her family. At the age of 92, after living a
full life, Lela was ready to join her Lord and Savior in Heaven.
Lela was preceded in death by her husband, Paul H. Wenger;
grandson, Scott Thomas; parents Ezra and Opal Bentch; brothers Don (Mary
Louise) Bentch, C.E. (Betty) Bentch; Sisters Glendola (Roy) Wenger, and Eunice
(Quintin) Lehman.
Lela is survived by children Barb (Lew) Thomas of Cedar
Falls, IA; Twila (Jeff) Snowden of Fort Collins, CO; Dwayne (Brenda) Wenger of
Hesston, KS; Donna (Romney) Heinrichs of Hesston, KS; grandchildren Shawn
(Abby) Thomas of Olympia, WA; Cary Snowden (fianc? Marissa Marr) of Stafford,
VA; Kendall (Emily) Wenger of Rockingham, VA; Lance (Kristin) of Rockingham,
VA; Alicia (Shane) Showalter of Singers Glen, VA; Andrew Heinrichs of Hesston,
KS; Katrina Heinrichs of Hesston, KS and five great-grandchildren.
A private family graveside service will be held at Eastlawn
Cemetery in the coming months. Memorials will go to Harry Hynes Memorial
Hospice who provided loving care for both Paul and Lela in their last days, in
care of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, PO Box 32, Hesston, Kansas 67062.
