Agnes Marie Benedict

This week, heaven gained a very special angel. Agnes Benedict passed away peacefully in her sleep sixteen days before her 96th birthday. The gratitude we have for this woman is beyond measure. Her heart was as pure as they come. She was a woman of exceptional intelligence, a wonderful musician, an avid reader and writer, she was an educator who loved to golf and travel. Her life was rich with meaningful and enduring friendships. She was loved deeply by her family to whom she devoted her presence and love to unequivocally. In this moment, though our hearts feel broken, we are blessed to cherish myriad fond memories with her. Here is a passage she wrote in her autobiography that sums up her joy for music, and for life: “Until I die, one of my best memories will be walking back to school to practice on those beautiful Kansas spring evenings, the always gentle breeze, the blue blue sky tinged with just a promise of the sunset, sometimes practicing our songs as we went. We felt ready to burst with the love of life!”

Agnes M. Benedict, 95, of Fort Collins, passed away on Monday April 12, 2021. Born in Ransom, KS, she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Verna (Marcy) Turman. Agnes lived in WaKeeney, KS, where she graduated from high school in 1943. She attended Fort Hays State University, graduating with two majors in English and Piano Performance. She met her husband Norm Petty in college and they were married in 1947. Norm was killed in a plane crash in 1960. They had three children, Tom, Jan, and Kirk.

Agnes moved to Fort Collins in 1960 and continued to education at Colorado State University where she earned her Masters Degree in Education in 1965. She continued additional graduate studies at the University of Northern Colorado, Colorado University, and Denver University. During these years she met Gene Benedict and they married in 1963. Gene passed away in 2007.

She was a private piano teacher, a church organist and she taught in the Poudre School District for 20 years at Lincoln and Boltz Junior Highs and Fort Collins High school. She taught Reading, English, and Humanities and was one of the first Media Specialists in PSD. She also taught as a graduate assistant at Colorado State University in Piano, Computer Applications, and Word Processing.

Agnes enjoyed her many memberships and volunteer opportunities in the community of Fort Collins. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, Chapter EB PEO, Sigma Alpha Iota (music fraternity), Fort Collins Symphony Guild, the Collindale Women’s Golf Association, and multiple bridge and book groups. She volunteered with the Cub Scouts, Camp Fire girls, at Poudre Valley Hospital, the Junior Red Cross, Poudre Schools District, and multiple youth choirs.

A new world opened for Agnes when she met and married Gene Benedict. Activities which they enjoyed together included biking, skiing, backpacking, canoeing, and time with friends and family at their Steamboat cabin.

Surviving Agnes are daughter, Janet Campbell (Craig) of Fort Collins; son, Kirk Petty of Fort Collins; grandchildren, Brittany Juillard (Joe) of Elizabeth, Co, Adam Petty of Denver, Co, Anna Campbell of Twin Falls, ID, Kyle Petty of Fort Collins; Great Granddaughter, Esme Juillard; Niece, Bobbi Kidder (Ed Gangner) of Ashland, OR; and Nephew, Bruce Glass of Mead, CO.

She was preceded in death by husbands, Gene Benedict and Norm Petty; son, Tom Petty; parents Verna and Tom Turman; and siblings, Phyllis Glass and Hugh Turman.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: The Music Fund, First United Methodist Church, 1005 Stover St, Ft. Collins, 80524 or The Scholarship Fund, PEO Chapter EB, 4709 Prairie Vista Dr, Ft. Collins, 80526.

A memorial service will be held at 2PM on Friday April 30, 2021, at Resthaven Funeral Home, 8426 US 287, Fort Collins, CO. Inurnment and reception will follow.