Daisy Dell Benge

Daisy Dell Benge, 93, of Winterset died Monday, May 20, 2019 at West Bridge Care & Rehab in Winterset. A visitation will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., Friday, May 24, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Winterset, with family present to receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 25 at the church, with burial to follow in the Union Chapel Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Winterset Art Center. Daisy Dell Neal was born in Madison County, Iowa on July 13, 1925, the daughter of Harry and Hazel (Powell) Neal. She graduated from Winterset High School in 1942 and later married Walter Eddie Benge on February 14, 1946 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Daisy Dell was all about family and making music. She & Eddie taught over one thousand people how to play guitar, banjo, fiddle and mandolin. They were asked to perform for Ronald Reagan when he visited Winterset in 1983 and traveled to Washington DC to represent Iowa at the Smithsonian’s American Folk Music Festival in 1996. They have been inducted into the Iowa Country Music Hall of Fame. They played at the National Old Time Country and Bluegrass Festival and many events throughout Iowa and the nation. They were in many bands including, Banjos and Blue Jeans, County Friends and Benge Family Band. She was an avid horse woman and member of the Winterset Saddle Club. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and the Holliwell Happy Hour Club. Daisy Dell and Eddie were honored to be King and Queen of the Covered Bridge Festival and Sesquicentennial in Winterset. In her early years, she delighted in being a 4H leader. During those times she taught many people how to square dance and also “called” for them. She was also a great seamstress and enjoyed painting and drawing. Daisy Dell also enjoyed spending time with her “dandy” friend and neighbor, Diane Lair, doing puzzles for many years. Daisy Dell was a spin-off of Annie Oakley and was still shooting a Henry 22 at the age of 92. Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Sue (Jeff) Hansen of Winterset; son, Randy (Melany) Benge of Winterset; grandchildren, Heidi, Heather, Greg (Jessica), Logan (Mazie), Kirk (Beth), Jordan, Nathan, and Addy; and great-grandchildren, Daxton, Rafe, Shaley, Cambrie, Cayson, Grace; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and a host friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Eddie; brother, Dennis; and sister, Gerri.