Lester James Benda, age 86 of Brooklyn, died Monday, March 9, 2009 at Brooklyn Community Estates in Brooklyn, following a brief illness. Memorial Service: 10:30 A.M. Thursday, March 12, 2009, Kloster Funeral Home, Brooklyn with Rev. John Dodds officiating. Inurnment will be at Rector Cemetery, rural Chelsea. The family will receive friends after 9:30 A.M. Thursday at the funeral home. A memorial fund has been established.

He is survived by his wife Donna; his children, Elaine Wilcox (Daniel) of Johnson City, TN, Allan Benda (Sharon) of McComb, Ohio, and Mary Flander (Dennis) of Montezuma, IA; five grandchildren, Melissa Grimm (Jeff) of Des Moines, Angie Flander and Travis Flander of Montezuma, Jeff Benda of Newton and Michael Wilcox of Charleston, SC; and a great-grandchild, Aubrey Grimm of Des Moines. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Emil and William.

Lester James Benda was born October 17, 1922 in Poweshiek County, the son of James and Barbara Polka Benda. He received his education in the Poweshiek County schools. Lester married Donna Mae Lepley on November 23, 1952. The couple farmed north of Brooklyn for 48 years. Lester also worked at Amana Refrigeration for 26 years. He also worked part time for the Kiowa Foundry, the Gray Iron Foundry in Marshalltown and for Funk’s Hybrid Seed Company. He enjoyed going to farm and house auctions, liked old cars and especially enjoyed spending time with his family.