Bennie Rutherford

Bennie Rutherford, age 74, of Temple passed away Monday, March 31, 2008 at her home. Services will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday, April 3, at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Tim Owens officiating. Burial will follow at Bellwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be 6:00 - 8:00 PM Wednesday at the funeral home.

Bennie was born April 16, 1933 at Oplin in Callahan County to Lester and Addie Pearl (McBride) Mitchell. Preceding her in death were her parents, infant brother, Joe Lester Mitchell and Freddie Dan Mitchell, age 63. Bennie became a strong person at a very early age in life. She was abandoned by her father in the brink of depression days, at age two, along with a nine month old baby brother and a distraught mother with limited education and few skills. Bennie's mother worked tirelessly, scrubbing floors, cleaning houses and various jobs at hard labor. Pearl was a devoted mother and a few years later managed to get a switchboard job with a telephone company. She taught Bennie to assist her on the switchboard and about age seven or eight, Bennie became a real pro at the task. The years progressed, World War II was in full swing, Pearl located "Mitch", had him put in the Army and did receive some military allotment pay which was a great financial relief. War ended, Bennie and family moved from Fort Worth to Abilene with all their worldly belongings on a 1937 Ford Coupe courtesy of Sammy and Mary McBride. The uncle and aunt were a blessing to Bennie's family providing needed food and clothing to them. Bennie was now a very "seasoned" survivor of the world now as a young 13 year old. She became employed at a very elite up-scale restaurant in Abilene as a "car hop" and was promoted to waitress at the place called the "Chicken Shack", telling the manager that she was 16 years old in order to get the job. The manager knew she was much younger but hired her on the spot. He knew she needed work and could do the job. Bennie worked hard, helped support her mother, attending school by day and working evenings. Now able to buy her own clothes, many times she looked for a favorite dress to wear only to find that her mother wore it to work. Bennie never complained as she was a pillar of strength to her mother. Bennie met a young man at a midnight movie by the name of Van Rutherford. They had a courtship of less than a year and married at age 16 and 20. Bennie graduated from Abilene High School six weeks later. The Korean War started, Van served in the U. S. Navy Seabees and came home after the war. Two children were born, Michael and Vicky. Bennie encouraged Van to use his GI Bill to go to college. She strongly supported him throughout his college and helped him to obtain three degrees in a ten year period. Bennie supported Van as a school superintendent. He served several years in the school system as a teacher, coach and superintendent of schools in west Texas. The crowning moment of their lives came when Van entered the insurance industry at Temple in 1971.

Through Bennie's strong support, they accomplished their ultimate goals in life. Bennie was awarded the coveted Award of Excellence from the Horace Mann Company, an award few spouses receive, primarily awarded only to elite and high producing agents. She was known as the "great lady" of Horace Mann. During Van's career, they made fifty trips throughout the world including Bennie's first plane trip from Temple to Moscow, Russia. Other places included Paris, France, London, England, Brussels, Belgium, Canada, South America, Hawaii and numerous capital cities throughout the United States. During her busy schedule as a young teenager she found time to attend a revival meeting one night with her girlfriend. She accepted Christ as her savior that evening and tried to live for Him every day since then. Bennie, "the survivor" of hard depression years, several surgeries (included a quadruple heart surgery) could not survive or "outrun" the dreaded Alzheimer's disease that claimed her brilliant mind and wrecked her body.

Bennie and Van have been retired for ten years, have two wonderful children, Mike of Temple, Vicky of Bryan and her husband, Bobby Joe Tomastik, two grandsons, Erick and Evan Knutsen of Bryan and granddaughter, Lacy Gladowski and husband, Mark of Reno, Nevada.

Bennie is now at her eternal home where surviving is non-existent. We will miss you dearly but you will live in our hearts and minds forever. We look forward to being with you and our Heavenly Father. Bennie was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She enjoyed her family very much and raised her children with an iron fist and velvet glove, showing tough love during their formative years.

Our everlasting gratitude to the Area Agency on Aging, the hospice group of dedicated nurses, Dr. Jim Weinblatt and the Scott & White staff. A special thank you to an "angel of mercy", retired R.N. Mary Ann McGuire and her supportive husband, Bill – our neighbors of 31 years. Thanks to Dr. Tim Owens, pastor of First Baptist Church in Bryan for his eloquent work conducting the services.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Area Agency on Aging, Texas Home Health Hospice in Waco, Diabetes Association or the Alzheimer's Association.