Beneda E. Hess

Beneda E. Hess,97, a longtime Pleasant Valley Twsp. resident died peacefully on Monday(December 16, 2024) at  The Homestead in Rochester,MN .

Beneda Emily Schatz was born on January 30, 1927 to Reinhard and Elva ( Kuhlman ) Schatz.  She was raised on the family farm in Grand Meadow,MN and attended District 41 country school  through the 8th grade.  Beneda married Eugene Hess on October 9, 1949 and they continued to farm in Grand Meadow,  where they raised their 3 sons - Jerome, Melvin “Herb” and Brian and lived for many years.  Beneda was an accomplished homemaker and farmwife and always maintained an immaculate home with everything always in its assigned location. Eugene was a life-long farmer. Mr. Hess died in 1993. Beneda moved into Stewartville following her husband’s death and has lived in an apartment at The Homestead Senior Living in Rochester for the past 10 years.  Beneda was a life-long member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Pleasant Valley Twsp and a devoted Christian who volunteered with it’s Ladies activities.  She was an excellent cook and baker (cakes, pies, Christmas cookies, homemade ice cream) and was well-known for her baked beans.  She enjoyed visiting with friends and neighbors and loved time spent with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Beneda is survived by her sons - Jerome (Jackie Stroot) of Lakeville,MN;  Brian (Gabrielle) of Rochester; daughter-in-law Kay Hess of Rochester;  5  grandchildren, Christina (Tom) Miles, Jeff (Trisha) Hess, Sheena (Will) Schar, Ann (Mike) Kahn and Bjorn Hess; 4  great-grandchildren Abby and Emily Miles and Owen, Samson Kahn.  She is also survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was as proceeded in death by her husband Eugene, son Melvin, her parents and an infant brother, 6 brothers-in-law and 6 sisters-in-law. 

 A funeral service  will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday ( Dec 19, 2024) at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Pleasant Valley Twsp with Rev. Marc Freiberg Sr. officiating   Burial will be at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery. A time of visitation for family and friends will be from 4 to 7:00 PM on Wednesday (December 18, 2024) at  Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville,MN and 1 hr. prior to the service at the church on Thursday morning.  Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray FH in Stewartville. Condolences and memories of Beneda are welcome at www. griffin-gray.com

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