Avis Lorraine Beneda, 92, of Holton, KS passed away, Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at Medicalodge Jackson County.

Avis was born May 3, 1923 in Oberlin, KS the daughter of Harry and Hattie (Bliss) Armstrong. She and her 2 sisters, Phyllis and Frances, were raised on a farm outside of Oberlin. She graduated from Decatur County High School in 1940. She moved to Denver and married Melvin Beneda, also of Oberlin, December 28, 1941 in Oberlin.

Following World War II, Avis and Melvin lived in Denver where they raised 4 daughters. Avis was involved with her daughters in Campfire Girls, 4-H, Girl Scouts and Job’s Daughters. She served as a member of the Beach Court PTA from 1949 to 1967. She visited shut-ins as a member of the Unity Chapter #97, Order of the Eastern Star. Her sewing and cooking abilities served her well in all of these roles as well as wife and mother. Her cinnamon rolls, cookies and loaves of bread were highly regarded gifts.

Avis and Melvin moved to Holton, KS in 1996. Avis was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Holton. Avis sewed baby blankets for the Crisis Pregnancy Center.

Avis is survived by four daughters and their husbands, Judy and Don Swisher, Janette and Bill Smitham, Janell and Niles Riese, Jerrilee and Gerry Bender; five grandchildren, Danette (James) Sampson, Dena Swisher, Deb (Nate) Luther, Will (Angie) Smitham, Madison Beneda-Bender; six great-grandchildren, Taylor and Dillon Harned, Satin Swisher, Tyler D’Ovidio, Sophie and Charlotte Luther; her sister and brother-in-law, Frances and Charles Rucker of Lee’s Summit, MO and a cousin, Bernice Sievier. Avis was preceded in death by Melvin and a sister, Phyllis McCartney.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 24, 2015 at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton.  Burial will be the following day, Sunday, in Oberlin Cemetery, Oberlin, Kansas.  The family will greet friends from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday evening at Mercer Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to Holton Community Hospital Hospice c/o Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton 66436.  To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com.