Doris Benjamin, 89, of Storm Lake and formerly of Perry passed away Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at the Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Visitation with family and friends will be Sunday, April 27 from 5-7 p.m. at the Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home-Perry Chapel. A Memorial Service will be held Monday, April 28 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Perry, with burial at 2 p.m. at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel, Iowa.
Doris Kathryn Benjamin was born Nov. 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 Jan. 1, 1956, ultimately residing in Perry.
Doris was a dedicated homemaker and helped Earl as a bookkeeper for the Perry Office Supply, the business they opened in 1972 and 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 20 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 in maintaining the hostas at the Iowa Arboretum and Gardens, serving as an election poll worker or donating 16 gallons of blood for LifeServe Blood Center.
She was deeply involved in community activities and was a longtime 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 that 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 and Brian (Ann) Benjamin; brother, Carl (Pat) Puhrmann; grandchildren, Anne York, Ryan Humpal, Ranae Fallis, Andrew Russell, Mallory (Daniel) Leonetti, Christopher Benjamin and Lauren Benjamin; step-grandchildren, Sharisse Hernandez, Myriah Hacker, Alexa Vlahakis and Steven Vlahakis; 13 great-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; and two 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 www.caldwellparrish.com.
