Leona M. Benefield, 89

by Daily Inter Lake
| April 4, 2007 1:00 AM

Leona M. Benefield, 89, died Tuesday, April 3, 2007, at a Libby Hospital. Leona had been a lifelong resident of Lincoln County. She was born in Eureka to L. Dow O'Brien and Blanche Ballargen O'Brien and was the granddaughter of Andrew and Sarah O'Brien, who were early pioneers of the Tobacco Plains in north Lincoln County. The family first resided in Eureka and later moved out to Black Lake near Rexford, where she attended the Black Lake School; she later walked five miles into Eureka each day to attend high school.

Leona married Clay Benefield on Aug. 8, 1938, and they resided at Black Lake until moving to the Libby area in 1943, living first on Sheldon Flats and later moving into town. She and Clay returned to north Lincoln County in 1950, where they lived at Rexford for 17 years until returning to Libby in 1967.

In the 1950s, Leona worked as a cook for the Forest Service, both at base and fire camps; during this time, she worked with Henry Hall in the camps and later worked for him at Henry's Restaurant in Libby for 18 years.

Leona and Clay enjoyed camping and later had worked as campground ranger and hosts at Logan State Park south of Libby.

Leona was very talented at handwork and enjoyed knitting and crocheting numerous items for both family and friends.

Clay preceded Leona in death in 1986; she was also preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Fred and Frank O'Brien; also by her daughter-in-law, Barbara Benefield, in March of this year; her sister-in-law, Pat O'Brien; as well as a nephew and niece, Lloyd and Frankaleen O'Brien.

Survivors include her sons, David Benefield and wife, Gayla, and Don Benefield, all of Libby; her brothers, Louie O'Brien of Libby, Leo O'Brien of Rexford, and Richard O'Brien of Libby; 10 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Nelson and Vial Funeral Home chapel in Libby. Committal services will be afterward at 2 p.m. at Tobacco Valley Cemetery in Eureka. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home in Libby.