Bernetha Laurene Beneda went to be with the Lord on Aug. 27, 2018 at Mt. Joseph Senior Village, Concordia, KS at the age of 92. She was born on Sept. 20, 1925 to Walter & Lulu (Price) Ekstrom on a farm near Hollis, KS.
She attended Hollis Grade School thru 1939 and then went on to graduate from Concordia High School in 1943. She worked at the Cloud County Bank and later at the Concordia Ice Co. After she was married, she worked at First National Bank.
Bernetha married Vernon Lee Beneda on Dec. 24, 1946 in the Hollis Methodist Church. They moved to a farm southeast of Hollis, where they lived their entire life and they were blessed with a daughter, Luanna Lee.
Bernetha was a member of the Hollis United Methodist Church, having accepted the Lord around the age of 11 and was baptized. When the Hollis church disbanded, she transferred her membership to the Trinity UMC in Concordia in 1962. She taught the 5th & 6th grades in the 1970s in Sunday school and the adult classes later.
In 1975, she began attending the Stonecroft Christian Women’s Club brunches and held various offices including, Chairman, Area Representative, Prayer Advisor and Telephone Chairman.
Bernetha and Vernon began square dancing in 1955, joining the Concordia Clubs, the Aurora Starlighters and later, the Concordia Starlighters. They attended square dances all over the area and enjoyed meeting so many fine people.
She enjoyed being with her family and in 1987, was blessed with Luanna and her husband Dave Clark, adopting 3 month old twin boys, Mike & Danny.
She is survived by her daughter, Luanna Clark (Dave), Wichita; grandson, Mike Clark (Lindsey) & great granddaughters, Riley & Reagan Clark.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon on Feb. 25, 2014; a grandson, Danny Clark; her parents; 5 sisters & 2 brothers.
Funeral services will be 10:00 am, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018 at the Trinity United Methodist Church, Concordia with Pastor Scott Tempero officiating. Burial will follow at the Hollis Cemetery, Hollis. Visitation will be Wed., Aug. 29, 2018 from 1-8 pm with the family greeting friends from 7-8 pm all at Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, Concordia. The family suggests memorials to the Trinity UMC or Meadowlark Hospice in care of the funeral home. For online condolences, please visit www.chaputbuoy.com.