STRAWN — R. Weldon "Deke" Benway, 85, of rural Strawn passed away at 5:05 a.m. Saturday (July 9, 2011) at his home.

A funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Rose Catholic Church, Strawn, with the Rev. Scott Archer officiating.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Martin Funeral Home, Forrest, where a rosary will be recited at 4:30 p.m. An additional visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. prior to Mass at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to St. Rose Catholic Church, American Heart Association or to a charity of the donor's choice.

Interment will be in the Strawn Township Cemetery.

Deke was born Oct. 4, 1925, in rural Strawn, a son of Albert and Anna Rudolph Benway.

He married Betty Harris on Feb. 21, 1950, at Lady of Lourdes Rectory, Gibson City. She survives.

Also surviving are one son, Douglas (Sharon) Benway of Strawn; six grandchildren, Michelle (Kurt) Kietzman of Gibson City, Jason (Sherry) Birkenbeil of Lexington, Tyson (Amanda) Benway of Milton, Wis., Dustin (Christine) Benway of Mahomet, and Brenton Benway and Kendall Hornstein, both of Strawn; seven great-grandchildren, Mariah and Lexi Brucker, Kyra Kietzman, Craig and Evan Birkenbeil, and Coy and Kara Benway; one sister, Gloria Ann Rebholz of Chatsworth; one brother, Keith (Sharon) Benway of Sibley; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Susan Birkenbeil; five sisters, Josephine Hatfield, Geraldine Rebholz, LaVerne Kurtenbach, Loretta Wiesinger and Helen Kelly; and four brothers, Joe, William, Jerome and Paul Benway.

Deke farmed his entire life in rural Strawn.

He served as a Fayette Township Trustee for 19 years, Livingston County Zoning Committee, Strawn Cemetery trustee and as a St. Rose Catholic Church trustee from 1955 to present.

Weldon was proud of his family and loved them all very much. He enjoyed his winter home and friends in Florida. He lived a full and happy life, and will be dearly missed by his family and friends who knew him.

This obituary may be viewed, and private condolences sent to the family online at www.martin-funeralhomes.com.