Seventh Generation

49. Benjamin Wallace "Benny" MEE was born on 27 December 1924 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^42,155 He appeared in the census in 1930 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.¹³ He graduated in 1942 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁵⁶ from Tomah High School. Benny died on 2 March 2010 at the age of 85 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁵⁷

Obituary Notes: "Benjamin “Benny” W. Mee, 85, of Tomah, died, Tuesday, March 2, 2010, at Tomah Memorial Hospital. He was born Dec. 27, 1924, to Archie and Pauline (Ludeking) Mee on the family farm in the Town of LaGrange. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church in Tomah. He attended Benjaminville Elementary School and graduated from Tomah High School in 1942.

He was united in marriage to Erna McNutt on May 2, 1952, in Freeport, IL. They farmed together for many years outside of Tomah. He enjoyed the outdoors especially while he was fishing, hunting, and gardening. After his retirement, he tended an acre garden. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends playing cards. Benny always liked to work with his hands and built numerous and completed many different projects; he also brewed his own root beer. He was a lifelong member of St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church. He also was a charter member of the Tomah High School FFA program.

He is survived by his wife, Erna; his children, Michael (Peggy) of Platteville, and Ellen (Tom) Champlin and Marlon (Heidi), both of Tomah, Lori (Jack) Welcher of Sparta, and Teri (Craig) LeVoir, of Windom, MN; nine grandchildren, Michele (Joe) Ryan of Cuba City, Dayna (Jamie) Udelhofen of Janesville, Brian (Mindy) Mee of Potosi, Erin (Mike) Moseley, Elissa (Jason) Moseley, Eric (Becky) Bloom, Erick (Jessica) Waltemath, Sara (special friend Travis Brooker), and Tonna (Joe) Claussen, all of Tomah; 18 great-grandchildren; a sister, Vivian (Lyle) Brookman of Lakeland, FL; nieces, nephews and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Randall; a great-grandson, William Waltemath; five brothers, Orvis, Milton, Maurice, Spencer and Herbert, and a sister, Beatrice.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 6, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, 525 Superior Ave., Tomah. Pastor Donald R. Buch will officiate. Burial will be in the Warren-Mills Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to call on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau St., Tomah, and on Saturday at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Online condolences maybe given at www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com.

The family requests memorials be given to the Tomah Serenity House, c/o Tomah Memorial Hospital, 321 Butts Ave., Tomah, WI 54660, the American Cancer Society or St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, in Benny’s memory."

.

Benjamin Wallace "Benny" MEE and Erna Jean MCNUTT were married on 2 May 1952 in Freeport, Freeport Township, Stephenson County, IL.^157,158,159 Erna Jean MCNUTT, daughter of Francis Oscar MCNUTT and Florence Ellen FRINK, was born on 3 August 1926 in Warrens, Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.^42,160 She appeared in the census in 1930 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.¹³ She died on 13 June 2011 at the age of 84 in Monroe County, WI.¹⁶⁰

Obituary Notes: "Erna J. Mee, 84, of Tomah, died Monday, June 13, 2011, at the Cranberry Courts Assisted Living. She was born on Aug. 3, 1926, to Frank and Nellie (Frink) McNutt at Warrens. Erna attended Sparta High School and was a member of the graduating class of 1944. She was united in marriage to Benny Mee on May 2, 1952, in Illinois. He preceded her in death on March 2, 2010. She worked for Farnam Industries of Necedah in the shipping and receiving department for over 23 years before retiring in 1988. Over the years Erna enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Many afternoons and evenings were spent playing a variety of card games like euchre, sheepshead and cribbage. During some quiet moments she could be found working on a crossword puzzle or just looking out the kitchen window enjoying the view. Erna had a kind, generous heart of gold. She always enjoyed having her family close around her, especially on the holidays. Christmas was one of her favorite times of the year. When going to Grandma Mee’s house, there was always a special treat to be found, whether it be the candies in the candy drawer or her delicious chocolate chip cookies and elderberry pie. She will always be remembered by her family for her gentleness and her kind, gracious spirit.

She is survived by her children, Michael (Peggy) of Platteville, Ellen (Tom) Champlin and Marlon (Heidi), both of Tomah, Lori ( Jack) Welcher of Sparta and Teri (Craig) LeVoir of Windom, Minn.; nine grandchildren, Michele (Joe) Ryan of Cuba City, Dayna (Jamie) Udelhofen of Janesville, Brian (Mindy) Mee of Potosi, Erin (Mike) Moseley, Elissa (Jason) Moseley, Eric (Becky) Bloom, Erick (Jessica) Waltemath, Sara Waltemath (special friend Travis Brooker) and Tonna (Joe) Claussen all of Tomah, 21 great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a son Randall; a great-grandson William Waltemath; seven sisters, Ruth Hilliker, LaVon Mittlestaedt, Dorothy Phillips, Vera Gray, Genevieve Clay, Audrey Lobenstein and June McNutt, three brothers, Glenn McNutt, Donald McNutt and Virgil McNutt.

A funeral Service will be held on Friday, June 17, 2011, 11 a.m. at St. Matthew Ev. Lutheran Church, 2002 Cty. Hwy. E, Warrens. Pastor Phillip M. Enderle will officiate. Burial will be in Warren Mills Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to call on Thursday (today) from 4-8 p.m. at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau Street, Tomah, and at the church on Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service."

Benjamin Wallace "Benny" MEE and Erna Jean MCNUTT had the following children: