Doris K Benjamin

Doris Benjamin, 89, of Storm Lake, Iowa passed away on Wednesday, March 5th, 2025, at Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake, Iowa.

Visitation with family and friends will be Sunday, April 27th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home & Crematory in Perry, Iowa. A Memorial Service will follow on Monday, April 28th at 10:30 AM at the First Presbyterian Church in Perry with burial at 2:00 PM at Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel. 

Doris Kathryn Benjamin was born on November 21, 1935 in Paullina, Iowa to Elmer Puhrmann and Regina Alvina Ella (Otte) Puhrmann. Doris grew up on a Century Farm and graduated from Paullina High School as salutatorian in 1954. She was united in marriage to Earl Benjamin on January 1st,1956, ultimately residing in Perry, Iowa.

Doris was a dedicated homemaker and helped Earl as a Bookkeeper for Perry Office Supply, the business they opened in 1972 which later became Idea Press; they owned and operated that downtown Perry business until their retirement in 1999.

After selling their business, Earl and Doris spent the next twenty years doing the things they loved: gardening and landscaping, playing cards, golfing, baking, bird watching and fishing. Doris was an avid reader and life-long learner. Their extensive travels included visiting their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, camping and exploring various state and national parks, fishing in Minnesota and Canada with friends, cruising to Hawaii and Alaska, and escaping the Iowa cold to Arizona and Texas.

Doris loved to volunteer, whether it was maintaining the hostas at the Iowa Arboretum and Gardens, serving as an election poll worker, or by donating 16 gallons of blood for LifeServe Blood Center. She was deeply involved in community activities, and was a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church in Perry, serving as Deacon on multiple occasions. Doris and Earl later joined Lakeside Presbyterian Church in Storm Lake, when they moved to the Methodist Manor in 2019.

Doris and Earl were united in marriage for nearly 64 years, prior to Earl’s passing in December 2019.

Doris was a great listener and made friendships which lasted a lifetime. She will be remembered for her kind heart, eagerness to help others, and her empathetic, soft-spoken manner.

In death, Doris joins her parents, husband Earl and brother Leonard. Survivors include her children Kathy (Dan) Hacker, Jeff (Tim Merritt) Benjamin, Brian (Ann) Benjamin and brother Carl (Pat) Puhrmann; grandchildren Anne York, Ryan Humpal, Ranae Fallis, Andrew Russell, Mallory (Daniel) Leonetti, Christopher Benjamin, Lauren Benjamin, step-grandchildren Sharisse Hernandez, Myriah Hacker, Alexa Vlahakis, Steven Vlahakis, 13 great grandchildren, 2 step-great grandchildren, and 2 great, great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Doris’ name to any Alzheimer’s and Dementia organization, or to a charity of your choice.

Condolences may be sent online at https://www.caldwellparrish.com/obituaries/doris-benjamin.