Eva H. Richard

Surrounded by her children, Eva Hildegard Benna Richard peacefully left this earth to be with her Lord and Savior on December 6, 2012. Born on Christmas day, 1915, Eva was a loving, caring, giving person who touched the lives of all she met. She was a gentle spirit, with a quiet will of iron. She lived for her God, her family and her friends.

She especially loved children, and was a beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother to not only her direct descendants, but also to countless children whose lives were blessed with her loving care.

Born at home of parents, Edith Spar Benna and George Benna, Eva was the oldest girl of eleven children whose hard work and loving hands were crucial to the care of her younger siblings and the running of their large farm family.

Baptized and confirmed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Albert City, Eva embodied a lifelong commitment to her faith. After graduating from Albert City High School, she became the first telephone operator in the area.

Married during WWII she experienced the trials and difficulties of a young military wife. After the war, they settled in Illinois, where they raised their five children. She was a very expressive and prolific writer, creating poetry and stories throughout her life. Professionally she wrote for a newspaper. A lifelong lover of books, she was also a librarian who spent many happy hours reading.

Thirty seven years ago she returned to Storm Lake and became a real life “Mary Poppins” to area children and families as well as an inspiration within her church.

Eva was preceded in death by her husband, DJ; her parents George and Edith (Spar) Benna; her sisters (infant) Marie (Dolly) and May Benna Specketer; and her brothers, Bart, George (Judge), Vern and Hank Benna.

Mourning her loss are her children, Barbara Colleen (Virg) Harrison of Cherokee, IA, Dee (Milton) Strack, of Monticello, Il, Mel (Jim) Kopisch, of Atascadero CA, James (Bryn) Richard of Portland, OR , and Liumi (Ross) Richard-Crow of Austin, TX; her grandchildren, Laura Carlson, Jeana Harrison, Angela Creel, Denny Strack, Rick Strack, Mike Strack, Matthew Strack, Joshua Strack, Brian Cundiff, Jeff Cundiff, Jake Kopisch, Scott Nelson, Bill Draheim, Shila Wachtel, Jennifer Musick, Krystal Racca; 22 Great Grandchildren, Jordan Harrison, Milianna and Ben Carlson, James and Andrew Creel, Stephanie, Dillon, Sara, Zachary, and Vinny Strack, Rebecca and Vanessa Cundiff, Kaysey and Dustin, Lindsey Anderson, James and Geneva Draheim, Anna Wachtal, Alaina Musick, Cameron Smith, Niall and Eleanor Anderson; and sisters, June Minard of Midwest City, OK, Joyce Sandine of Alta, and Anita (Richard) Williams of Ottawa, KS; brother, Leon (Pal) Benna (Marilyn) Ankeny, IA; sisters-in-Law, Naomi Benna of Storm Lake, IA and Bernie Mead of Spencer, IA; and countless other relatives and friends.

Eva lived her life believing that every day is a new day, every morning a rebirth, a day to seek and to find the joy, the love and the spirit of God in our lives. That was Eva, a seeker of the Lord our God, she taught us well, planting seeds that were watered by the Grace and Love of God. And now this earthly journey ends for her. But not really an ending, a beginning….home, Home at last!