Frances Faye Orth ¹

  General Notes:

Source: Ancestry.com/RootsWeb.com Database: My Ancestors (Jill Bennett )

During her first 12 years of life she lived in Bedford, Iowa. Her father, Court A. Orth passed away when she was five years old. Frances traveled all over the west coast and California for about a year when she was almost twelve. Her mother made her take along her school books to keep up with her studies during that time. They returned to Bedford, Iowa when her mother remarried to Merrit W. Campbell. They moved to Rock Island, Illinois for the remainder of her adolescence. Frances talked very highly of both Merritt and her mother, Vera. Frances grew up in a very financially well-to-do family despite the rough times that occurred to many Americans in the late 1920's and 1930's. Frances completed high school and continued her education in Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and received her teachers certificate in 1928. After graduation, she briefly traveled out east with her mother. She they taught art for almost four years prior to meeting and marrying Allen. Allen was 30 years old and Frances was 26 when they married. Allen's sales job with the oil company often took him away from home, so Frances and their baby, Lawrence lived with her mother in Rock Island, Illinois for a couple of years. She did some substitute teaching until the birth of Larry, from there on, she gave up her teaching career and devoted herself to being a homemaker for her husband and son when they moved to Clinton Falls Township, Steele, Minnesota. She assisted Allen with the grocery store they purchased together until its closure in 194 6. She belonged to the Associated Church in Owatonna, Minnesota where she volunteered for many activities. She was also a member of the former Clinton Falls Exchange Club. Frances was well known for her wonderful baking abilities, artistic handwriting and projects. She died at the age of 88 .

Owatonna People's Press Obituary reads: " Frances Bennett, until recently of Kinyon Residence, died Monday, May 2 at Cedarview Nursing Home. She was 88. Frances Orth was born July 23, 1905 in Rock Island, Illinois, the daughter of Court and Vera Orth. She was raised there, graduated from high school and later form college with a bachelor's degree and teacher's certificate. For four years prior to her marriage, she taught art at the college level. On June 25, 1932, she married Allen Bennett in Albert Lea, Minnesota. In 1946, the couple moved form Rock Island to Clinton Falls. They began the Clinton Falls Grocery Store and operated the business until their retirement in 1965.

Mrs. Bennett recently moved to Cedarview Nursing Home. She was a member of the Associated Church where she was a volunteer for many activities. She was a former member of the Clinton Falls Exchange Club. Mrs. Bennett enjoyed entertaining. She is survived by a son Larry (and Donna) Bennett of Owatonna; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Mrs. Bennett was preceded in death by her husband on Aug. 16, 1992. The funeral will be at 1 PM Thursday at Michaelson Funeral Home. The Rev. Theresa Roos will officiate. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in Clinton Falls. Friends may call from 5 to 9 PM today and an hour before the funeral Thursday at the funeral home."
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Frances married Allen Leroy Bennett, son of James Arthur Bennett and Gertrude Mae Blanchard, on 25 June 1932 in Albert Lea, MN.¹ (Allen Leroy Bennett was born on 28 March 1902 in Albion, IA ¹ and died on 15 August 1992 in Owatonna, MN ¹.)