Vivien Benter

VIVIEN RUTH BENTER

Monticello

Vivien Ruth Benter, 93, died Sunday, Aug. 20, 2017, at Simpson Memorial Home in West Liberty. Friends may call from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello. A private graveside service will be held at the Hopkinton Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Maquoketa Valley Dollars for Scholars in Vivien's name. Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.

Vivien was born May 21, 1924, in Strawberry Point, Iowa, to Ward and Edith Ives Siddell, the fourth of 10 children. She graduated from Delhi High School in 1941. She attended Lenox College in Hopkinton in 1941 and Upper Iowa University in Fayette in 1942. On Aug. 1, 1942, she married Irvin Benter at Kirksville, Mo. Following World War II, the couple farmed in the Hopkinton area. Vivien and Irvin moved from the farm to a home in Monticello in 2000.

In addition to being a farm wife, raising four children and working at White Containers in Monticello, Vivien continued her education at Upper Iowa University with evening and weekend classes. She began a long association with Maquoketa Valley Schools in 1961. She first taught elementary classes, then high school English. She was later a reading specialist, and after receiving her M.A. degree from Clarke College, she was a junior high and elementary principal. After retiring in 1986, she was a substitute teacher in the high school until 2005.

Vivien was an expert seamstress, creating countless gowns for weddings and proms. She was also known for her pie and candy making skills. She enjoyed reading, camping, bowling and especially looked forward to visits from her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include her children, Pam (Larry) Schnittjer of West Liberty, Jim (Junelle) Benter of Monticello, David (Ann) Benter of Mayo, Fla., and Kathy (Richard) Murray of Decorah; brothers, Gary (Ann) Siddell of Coggon and Paul (Claudia) Siddell of Hot Springs, Ark.; sister, Ann Zupanc of Brecksville, Ohio; sister-in-law, Janella Knockle of Marion; 15 grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Irvin, in 2011; her parents, Ward and Edith Siddell; siblings, Marilyn Webber, Hazel Hayslett, Sibyl Dever, Crystal Evans, Ward Siddell and Robert Siddell; and a grandson, Lt. Jason Baker.