Obituary of Betty E. Benjamin

GOUVERNEUR – Betty Ellen Benjamin, age 96, of Gouverneur, passed away on December 13, 2018 at the Carthage Center for Rehabilitation. Calling hours will be at French Funeral Home in Gouverneur on Monday, December 17, 2018 from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Her funeral service will be held at the Spragueville Methodist Church on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow in the Gulf Cemetery in Fowler. Betty was born on October 4, 1922 in Rossie on the Matoon Creek Farm, owned by her parents, Frederick and Helen (Shippee) Drumb at 5:00 a.m. while her father was delivering milk. She went to the Gouverneur Elementary School, Pike's Corners Country School, and graduated from Gouverneur Central School in 1940. Betty married Bruce L. Benjamin on May 3, 1941 at the Methodist Parsonage with Rev. Harold Thomas officiating. Bruce passed away on September 18, 1990. Betty worked for the Gouverneur Central School Cafeteria from 1981 until 1987. Mrs. Benjamin was a lifetime member of the Gouverneur VFW Ladies Auxiliary where she had held every office, including Chaplin for many years. She was also Chairman of the Teacher's Tea for 34 years, Past President of the St. Lawrence Counsel, and a member of the Spragueville Methodist Church Her survivors include three daughters and their husbands, Bonita "Bonnie" and Robert Hendrick, Suzanne "Sue" and William Porter, Kathleen "Kathy" and Ronald Nicholas; two sons and their wives, David and Vicki Benjamin, Roger and Donna Benjamin; and four sisters, Ruth McAllister, Lois and Cecil Steele, Alice Phelps, and Anne Weller. Betty is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents; a brother, Donald Drumb; and a sister, Doris Geer. Donations in memory of Betty may be made to the Spragueville Methodist Church, PO Box 27, Philadelphia NY 13673 or the Gouverneur VFW Ladies Auxiliary, 100 West Main Street, Gouverneur NY 13642.