Beneke, Leland F.

Leland F. Beneke, 90, of Des Moines, died Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011, at Scottish Rite Park. According to his wishes, his body was donated to Des Moines University.

Lee was born Feb. 5, 1921, in Laurens, Iowa, to Anton and Theresa (Mefferd) Beneke. A graduate of Iowa State University, he was a member of the Farmhouse Fraternity. He married Shirley Siefken in 1947. He worked for the Extension Service, then farmed the family acres, served as a bank loan officer and later established a farm management and real estate business. He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, Vinton Masonic Lodge and Cedar Rapids El Kahir Shrine. Lee enjoyed fishing, playing bridge, following the stock market and sharing a good joke.

Leland was predeceased by his parents; siblings, Donald Beneke, Raymond Beneke, Helen Overdahl and James Beneke; and an infant son, Craig Lee.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley; sisters, Lucille Ellson of Orlando, Fla., and Marjorie Jensen of Fairmont, Minn.; three children, Lynn Hilmers of Houston, Bill (Sallee) Beneke of Princeton, Ill., and Ann Beneke of Des Moines; nine grandchildren, Matt and Dan Hilmers, Maggie, Alice, Tom and Abby Beneke, and Claire, Emma and Joe Wandro; two great-grandchildren, Ian and Josiah Hilmers; and a host of other family and beloved friends.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, in the Penthouse at Scottish Rite Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Scottish Rite Park's Good Life Fund or Wesley United Methodist Church, Vinton.

Online condolences may be made at: .

Published in The Gazette Dec. 27, 2011.