Patricia “Pat” Benko, age 80, of Maple Lake, died Sunday, June 21, 2020.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 26, 2020 at St. Timothy Catholic Church, Maple Lake with Fr. John Meyer as Celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Charles Cemetery, Chatham Township. Attendees are asked to practice social distancing and face coverings are strongly encouraged. The mass will be live-streamed through the Dingmann Funeral Care website for those unable to attend.
Patricia Therese Benko was born on July 9, 1939 in Butler, Pennsylvania to Michael John and Helen Louise (Olexa) Benko. She had a twin brother, Michael, who died in 1978. Pat was a member of the Religious Sisters of Mercy whose Mother House is in Cincinnati, Ohio. Throughout her years in the community she taught first grade in Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. In 1970 along with Fr. Gordon Mycue, she started a state-licensed preschool at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Corcoran, Minnesota. She was the director teacher there for seven years. Pat had taught for over 30 years. When Fr. Mycue needed housekeeping and nursing care, Pat moved to Our Lady of Czestochowa in Delano and then to St. Therese Home in New Hope. A final move was to Maple Manor in Maple Lake. God and her Catholic faith were the most important things in her life She loved St. Timothy’s Catholic Church and her friends and neighbors, and could never seem to thank them enough for their many kindnesses.
Krista Elsenpeter and Sarah Goelz will provide music for the service. Arrangements entrusted to Dingmann Funeral Care Burial & Cremation Services of Maple Lake.
Obituary, Guestbook and Funeral Webcase online at www.dingmannfuneral.com