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Margaret A. Benda, 88, a resident of Calumet passed away peacefully at her home on Friday May 24, 2019.
She was born on December 2, 1930 in Calumet to Gustav and Lempi (Aittima) Junttila where she grew up in Raymbaultown.
She attended the local schools and graduated from Calumet High School with the Class of 1948. After high school, she then went on to receive her Bachelors Degree in 1952 in teaching with specialty in teaching the deaf from the Michigan Normal College, (now known as Northern Michigan University).
On June 21, 1952, she was united in marriage in Hancock to Edward Benda and they made their home in the Detroit area (Berkley and Farmington Hills).
Margaret began her teaching career at the Lutheran School for the deaf prior to starting a family. She had 9 children and returned to teaching after renewing her teaching certificate at Eastern Michigan University first as a substitute teacher and then full time teaching in the Farmington Public Schools after the children got older.
Her family spent summers at their cottage on Windover Lake near Clare, MI where they enjoyed frequent visits from many friends and relatives
The family also enjoyed numerous vacations to the Copper Country at Big Traverse and Calumet.
Margaret moved back to Calumet after retirement permanently in 1999.
Margaret enjoyed going skiing well into her 70’s. She would often take trips out west to Colorado to ski. She was a member of the National Ski Patrol for several years. She was also an avid scrabble player, and had an ongoing competition between her and Mrs. Janet Odell.
Margaret loved to travel taking trips to Finland, Hawaii, and other countries where her children worked.
Margaret was a member of the First Apostolic Lutheran Church of Calumet, National Ski Patrol, Topps and the Birmingham, MI Musical.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Gustav and Lempi Junttila, Husband Edward Benda, daughter Deborah Stiehl, her siblings, Eleanor (Bill) Harmala, Mildred (Arnold) Heltunen, Wilbert (Ginny) Junttila, Reuben (Lynn) Junttila, George (Irene) Junttila, Carl Junttila, infant sister Elizabeth Junttila, and Brothers in law Robert Bohjanen, and Charles Morgan
She is survived by:
Her children, Karl (Diane) Benda of Calumet, Lynn Benda-Sherman of Calumet, Steve (Ann) Benda of Cokato, MN, Martin (Denise) Benda of Edmonds, WA, Jeffrey (Barbara) Benda of Rockford, MI, Bruce (Anne) Benda, Pittsburgh, PA, Robert (Christina) Benda of Sandy, UT and James (Michelle) Benda of Gilbert, MN
36 grandchildren
33 great grandchildren
Sister: Mabel Bohjanen of Marquette, MI
Her sisters-in-law Shirley Morgan of Laguna Hills, CA and Angie Junttila of Big Traverse, MI
And numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
The funeral service will be held at the First Apostolic Lutheran Church of Calumet on Tuesday June 4, 2019 at 11:00 am with Pastor David Taivalkoski to officiate.
Friends may call at the First Apostolic Lutheran Church on Monday, June 3, 2019 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and on Tuesday June 4, 2019 from 10:00 am until the time of the service at 11:00 am.
Burial will be in the Lake View Cemetery in Calumet.
Online condolences for the family may be left at www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com
The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet is assisting the family with the arrangements.
