Mary Katherine Bench

Funeral services for Mary Katherine Boles Bench, 85, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, November 25, 2018 in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Bench passed away at 11:00 a.m., Sunday, November 18, 2018 at her home.

She was born February 22, 1933, at Koshkonong, Missouri, to Elisha Boles and Lula Wilson Boles.  Kathy, as she was known by most, was a member of the Church of Christ for 70 years.  On January 21, 1949, she was united in marriage at Brandsville, Missouri, to Gene Bench.  Kathy was a dedicated wife for almost 70 years! She was a great mother; she was always there for her children and loved them as only a mother could.  She was also great support to her husband, Gene, as he was the Evangelist for congregations in seven states; she never complained about the many moves that her family was required to make.  Kathy loved gardening, especially growing flowers of all kinds; she delighted in sharing “starts” of her flowers with others. She was an outdoors person and loved working in her yard.  The last few years of her life, she was subject to falling, which made it difficult to continue her passion for flowers.  Kathy was a very loving person and made friends easily; to know her was to love her.  She will be greatly missed by her family and the many friends she made on her journey through this life.

She is survived by her husband, Gene Bench, of the family home; two sons, Bruce Bench and wife, Barbara, Kalispell, Montana and Dennis Bench and wife, Deanna, Seneca, South Carolina; five grandsons, David Coleman, Jr., and wife, Jennifer, North Port, Alabama, Stephen Coleman and wife, Kristi, Haughton, Louisiana, Kyle Bench and wife, Maelyn, Bozeman Montana, Jason Bench, Kalispell, Montana and Dennis Bench, Jr., of South Carolina; one brother, Richard Boles, Kansas City, Missouri; one brother-in-law, Keith Bench and wife, Jurhee, Blue Springs, Missouri; and many nieces and nephews.

Her parents, one daughter, Jeanne Bench Coleman, two brothers, two sisters, three sisters-in-law and two brothers-in-law, preceded her in death.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Saturday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Burial will be in the Union Hill Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to Union Hill Cemetery and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.