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Bethany, MO: Charlene Roberta Bennett, the daughter of the late Riley and Mary (Kakacek) Preston and oldest of their five children, was born on December 31st, 1938, in Pocahontas, Iowa and passed away Monday, April 17th, 2023, at her home surrounded by family at the age of 84 years, three months and 17 days.
Charlene grew up on a farm near Mt. Moriah, Mo. She was baptized in 1954 at the Mt. Moriah Methodist Church. She attended school and loved playing basketball in high school at Mt. Moriah. She married her sweetheart, Bill Bennett, on June 30th, 1955. They were married almost 50 years before a logging accident took Bill’s life. To this union, six children were born: Barbara, Carl, Brenda, Belinda, Billy, and Lisa.
Charlene was a homemaker and made her home on a farm northwest of Bethany. She worked tirelessly, raising their six children and working on the farm. Between her children, her prized garden, canning, sewing, and tending to the cattle, she was always busy. She never complained about working so hard. She attended school functions and ballgames of her children and eventually of her grandchildren. She did everything she could in order for them to have a better life and more opportunities than she did growing up.
In the 1980’s Charlene began working at the Best Western Motel in Bethany. It wasn’t long before she was in charge of the housekeeping department. She loved meeting new people and hearing their stories. Charlene loved to sit outside on her porch and watch the birds. She enjoyed reading and taking pictures of beautiful weather scenes. She volunteered at the Bethany Food Pantry and the Lord’s Warehouse in Albany, Mo.
Homer Carter, her companion in later years, and Charlene spent much of their time traveling, including wintering in Apache Junction, Arizona. She enjoyed the diverse landscape and meeting new friends in their retirement community. They spent many days driving around searching for painted freedom rocks and enjoying each other’s company.
Charlene was so proud of her six children and thirteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren. She was always telling people about them. She considered that her greatest accomplishment. Charlene was able to have an Easter celebration where 50 family members were able to visit with her before her health rapidly deteriorated.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bill; sister, Janette Kakacek; brother, Raymond Preston; twin grandsons, Aaron and Ryan Flood and great granddaughter, Maddison Miles.
Charlene is survived by her 6 children, Barbara and Larry Simpson of Bethany, Mo., Carl Bennett of Independence, Mo., Brenda and Brad Clark of Bethany, Mo., Belinda Bennett of Panama City, Fla., Billy and Kirsti Bennett of Bethany, Mo., and Lisa and Steve) Miles of Bethany, Mo.; 13 grandchildren, Jennifer and Brad Benson, Tyler and Brittany Kurtright, Sam and Jasmine Miles, Ben Miles, Melissa and Jason Ayers, Kaylee Flood, Austin Flood, Asiah Bennett, Chase Bennett, Nick and Ashley Williams, Jessica Williams, Hannah Williams, Garrett and Emily Bennett; six great grandchildren, Trenton and Logan Fordyce, Tucker Kurtright, Roman Williams, Mariana Miles and Slade Moore; siblings, Linda and Gary Barnett, Sharon and Russel Mlika and Marylou McBroom; sisters-in-law, Louise Preston and Geraldine Sweeten, and brothers-in-law, Herb Bennett, Wilburn Bennett and her companion in later years, Homer Carter.
Funeral services were April 21 at Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany, Mo. Burial in Miriam Cemetery, Bethany, Mo.
Memorials may be made to the Harrison County Cancer Transportation Fund and/or Miriam Cemetery in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Bethany, Mo. 64424. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com