Carolyn Ann Benge, 83, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Monday, August 14, 2017. Visitation: 4 – 7 p.m. Wednesday, August 16, 2017, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids. Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 17, 2017, at Hope Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids. Pastor Rodney Bluml will officiate. The family requests that everyone wear Carolyn’s favorite color, purple, at her services. Burial: Linwood Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.
Carolyn was born on May 11, 1934, in Fremont, Iowa, the daughter of Cecil and Erna Cumpton. She attended grade school in a one room school house in Belknap, Iowa. They later moved to Tracy, Iowa, graduating from Tracy High School in 1952. While in high school she played basketball, lettering in the sport. On March 10, 1954, she married Larry Benge Sr. in Floris, Iowa. They were married for 62 years. They lived in the Mechanicsville, Stanwood area for many years before moving to Cedar Rapids for the last 45 years. She was a very active member of Hope Lutheran Church and loved spending time with her grandchildren. Carolyn also enjoyed baking, quilting, crafts and collecting snowmen.
Carolyn is survived by her husband, Larry Sr.; children, Mary Lou (Michael Parnell) Benge, Sandra and Andrew Benge; daughter-in-law, Marilyn Benge; brother, Cecil (Diana) Cumpton; sister, Arlene (Vern) Byers; grandchildren, Matthew, Katie, Nicole, Henry; and great-grandchild, Averie.
She was preceded in death by her son, Larry Benge Jr.; parents, Cecil and Erna Cumpton; half-brother, James Cumpton; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Leon and Neva Benge.
Memorials may be directed to the family.