Alfred Beneke
Alfred Lawrence Beneke passed away on Sept. 6, 2017. Alfred was born to Fred Beneke and Clara Riffel on Feb. 9, 1934, at home. The room he was born in is now a shed on the farm, known as the birthplace. Alfred was baptized as an infant into St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lincolnville, Kansas. He was confirmed in 1947. His confirmation verse was Matthew 26:41.
Alfred went to parochial and country school until the eighth year of his schooling. In first grade, his older sister was his teacher. After eighth grade, he went to Lincolnville Elementary School and later went to high school at Lost Springs, where he graduated in 1951. Alfred joined the Army in January 1955. First stationed in California for basic training at Fort Ord, he was then on to Chicago for radar training, and finally to Schofield Barracks in Hawaii.
Alfred left the military in December 1956 and married his childhood sweetheart, Berneda Joyce Lehman, on Jan. 20, 1957. This union brought six children: Melony Beneke; Mike Beneke and wife, Cindy; Kathryn; Lois; Beth Dillon and husband, Mike; and Allen Beneke and wife, Molly.
Alfred later married Donna Jean Adams Peterson in April 1988. This union added three stepchildren: Daine Peterson and wife, Kathleen; Curtis Peterson and wife, Marcy; and Troy Peterson and wife, Cristina. This combined family brought together a total of 26 grandchildren, 15 significant others, and 11 great-grandchildren, with three more on the way soon.
Alfred farmed ever since he was a young boy and continued to maintain the home place at Beneke Hill until his passing on Sept. 6, 2017. In his 40s, he served on the school board, the co-op board, and was president of St. John’s Lutheran Church congregation, as well as many other activities. Alfred was an active lifelong member and leader in 4-H.
Alfred’s hobbies included tinkering with things around the farm to keep them running. Alfred will always be remembered for his sense of humor and being a hard worker.
In the 1970s he worked in the oilfields for Kansas Drilling, first as a roughneck and later as a driller. He began work at Fort Riley in 1986 as a heavy equipment operator and continued until his retirement in April 1996.
Alfred is preceded in death by his parents, brother Laverne, and sisters Lorena and Evelyn. He is survived by his wife, of the home, all of his children, and numerous grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
We gathered to remember Alfred at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lincolnville, Kansas, on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017. Burial was held at Lincolnville Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Marion Kansas EMS and St. John’s Lutheran Church, Lincolnville, Kansas, and may be sent in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, P.O. Box 6, Marion KS 66861. Services by Zeiner Funeral Home, Marion, 620-382-2112.