Lester Benstine

STREATOR-  Lester G. Benstine 87 of Streator died Saturday morning (Sept. 20, 2014) at St. Mary’s Hospital, Streator. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Friday at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Streator with Rev. Roger Hurlbut, officiating, Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 PM Thursday at Hagi Funeral Home, Streator and from 9:45-10:45 AM Friday at the church. Burial with full military rites conducted by members of American Legion Post # 217 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post # 1492 will be in Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery, Streator.
Mr. Benstine was born Jan. 7, 1927 in Kirksville Missouri, the son of Amos and Maurita (Inman) Benstine. He married Anna Harms, Oct. 10, 1948 in Streator. She survives.
Les had been employed in the shipping department at Owens- Illinois Glass Co. Streator for 46 ½ years, retiring March 3, 1989, while at Owens he was a member of the welfare committee and was an officer of the men’s shipping department. He was a member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Streator where he was a member of the church board and was active with the Lutheran Brotherhood Ramp Builders. He was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post # 1492. He attended Wilson School. Les was a veteran of the US Army serving in Germany for 1 ½ years as a truck driver
He is survived by his wife Anna, two daughters, Althea (Melvin) Fechter, Minonk, Julie (Jack) Boparai, Champaign, one son, Mark (Jennifer Finlen) Benstine, Oswego, nine grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter, Pam Hays, three sisters Gladys Lucille Benstine, Vera Adams and Ethel Mae Benstine.
Pallbearers will be Todd and Bo Darm, Jimmy Boparai, Max Benstine, Dr. Robert and Kevin Harms. Honorary pallbearers will be Steve Williams and Mike Hays
Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church or to the Good Samaritan Home, Flanagan.