Obituary of Eleanor Benko

BENKO – The family of Eleanor Benko of Yorkton sadly announces her passing on May 3, 2024. She was 94 years of age.

Eleanor leaves to mourn her passing and cherish her memory, her children:  Richard Benko and his children: Katherine (Justin) Conrad, sons Braxton & Brody, Mark (Natasha Steinke) Benko and Brandi Benko Sylvia (Don) Lautner and her children: Ryan (Kate Joa) Lautner, Candace (Dwayne) Nash, daughter Carrington; David Benko; Bradley (Liza Escalante) Benko, children: Kayla, Justin & Brittney. Her siblings: Mary Lazurko, Rosę Benko, Jeanette Karapita, Angie Zwirsky. Her sister-in-laws: Joan Sass, Karen Sass, Mary Sass, Phyllis Fitzsimons, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Eleanor was predeceased by: her husband, Nick Benko; her parents, Metro & Margaret Sass; her parents-in-law, Gregory & Katherine Benko; her daughter-in-law, Melita Benko; her sisters, Sophie Pacholko, Annie Novakowski, Olga Dubiel; her brothers, Walter Sass, Peter Sass, Mike Sass, Steve Sass, Nick Sass, Frank Sass, Bill Sass; her sisters-in-law, Katie Sass, Rose Sass, Liz Sass, Annie Bonsal, Stella Benko, Mabel Benko, Annie Benko, Mary Krywulak, Mildred Nagy; her brothers-in-law, Peter Pacholko, Laudie Novakowski, John Lazurko, Raymond Dubiel, Lornie Karapita, Fred Zwirsky, Steve Benko, Mike Benko, Metro Benko, Andrew Benko, Mike Bonsal, Fred Krywulak.

Eleanor was born on November 2, 1929 in the Hubbard District, a member of a large family of 15. Despite her busy farm life Eleanor attended Greenbush School completing Grade 8. On November 7, 1951, she was united in marriage to Nick Benko moving to the family farm.

Eleanor is remembered for her hospitality as anyone that visited was always treated to homemade baking or to a full meal at short notice. Throughout the years she had large gardens filling 3 freezers with produce plus her weekly 10 loaves of bread.  She shared with her children the abundance of food in the freezer of perogies, cabbage rolls and pastries. Eleanor helped with farm duties from seeding to harvesting plus her duties of daily milking cows.  Eleanor was passionate about gardening, sewing, crocheting doilies and afghans, embroidering, patch quilting and canning.

In 1992, Eleanor and Nick purchased a home in Yorkton and continued farming. In 1999, they semi-retired spending most of the time in Yorkton.  In 2011, they sold their house moving to Gladstone Seniors Residence. Eleanor was unsure of this move but soon enjoyed the friendship of the residences, prepared meals, and no housekeeping duties. When Gladstone Residence building closed in 2023, Eleanor moved to Aspira Yorkton Crossing Retirement Living until April 2024. Eleanor was requiring more assistance and was moved on April 23, 2024 to Country Meadows-Yorkton Nursing Home until her passing.

Special thanks to the staff at Country Meadows, Yorkton & District Nursing Home also many thanks to Jim a resident at Aspira for assisting Eleanor to her meals.

The Funeral Service was held on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church

In Yorkton with Rev. Fr. Basil Malowany officiating. The responses led by Lorne Stechyshyn and Funeral Choir. Serving as cross bearer  was Brandi Benko. All her friends and neighbours that shared in her life were considered honourary bearers. The interment followed in the Yorkton City Cemetery with Mark Benko, Delmar Zwirsky, Candace Nash, Ryan Lautner, Justin Conrad and Katherine Conrad serving as the casket bearers.

Memorial donations honouring Eleanor’s life can be made to St. Mary's Church Building Fund (155 Catherine St. Yorkton, SK S3N 0B9)

Condolences to the family can be posted at baileysfuneralhome.com

Xpuctoc Bockpec! -   Christ is Risen!