died early Saturday morning, August 6, 2016 in Nye Legacy, Fremont.
Steven was born November 13, 1947 in Fremont, the son of Robert and Marian (Eggert) Benke. He grew up in Cedar Bluffs, and graduated from Cedar Bluffs High School in 1966. In high school, he played football, and was on the 1965 Championship team.
He served in the United States Army during the years of 1969-1971, with some of his service in Germany. He was the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal.
Steve retired from Valmont in November of 2013 after 43 years of employment. He was active in the Pioneer Amateur Radio Club, was a weather spotter, and spent many hours on his recumbent bicycle touring the area for several miles around Fremont.
On September 28, 1974 Steve was married to Charlotte 'Charley' Hotovec.
Survivors: wife Charley
son Adam and wife Courtney Benke of Webster City, Iowa
grandson Bennett W. Benke
2 sisters Deborah and husband Richard Dunker of Cedar Bluffs
and their daughter Kristine and husband Curtis Leick
Carol and husband Gil Stubbert of Phoenix, Ariz.
and their daughter Emile
brother Rob and wife Audra Benke of Cedar Bluffs
and their daughter Alli
Steve was preceded in death by his parents.
The funeral service will be 10:30 AM Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church with Rev. Dan Heuer. Visitation at the Ludvigsen Mortuary will be Tuesday from 2 to 8 PM, with the family receiving friends from 6 to 8 PM.
The committal will follow in Memorial Cemetery with Military Honors by the Fremont Honor Guard of American Legion Post 20 and VFW Post 854. Memorials are suggested to the Pioneer Amateur Radio Club of Fremont and the Special Olympics Committee of Fremont.
Online guestbook @ www.ludvigsenmortuary.com
Condolences(21)
Judith Schroeder
Kingwood,, TX Friday, August 12, 2016 Charley, so sorry to hear of your loss. My prayers are with you. JudyDon Bissen
Papillion, NE Thursday, August 11, 2016 Sorry to hear about Steve You and your family are in my pray. He home now pain free in God handsRandy Sazama
Fremont, NE Wednesday, August 10, 2016 Sorry for your loss. Worked with Steve at the Big V for many years. Kind of lost touch after he retired, One of the best people I have known and worked with.Maranna Bentley
Fremont, NE Wednesday, August 10, 2016 Charley, I am so sorry for your loss. Thoughts,prayers and love to you.Maranna and family
Rodney & Nancy Tomrdle
Fremont, NE Wednesday, August 10, 2016 Charley & all family: Our sympathy goes out to all of you in your loss of Steven. May you always hold good memories in your hearts. May the Lord hold all of you in His care & bring you comfort, peace of heart & strength for the days ahead. You all are in our thoughts & prayers.Jim Wray
Baytown, TX Tuesday, August 9, 2016 To the Benke family, sorry for your loss and prayers to all of you. I was a classmate of Steve in good old Cedar Bluffs High School. Enjoyed chatting with him at our 50th class reunion in June. And knowing Steve he would probably be saying, Smile, let's get this party going.paulette mayfield
mead, NE Tuesday, August 9, 2016 I am so sorry for your loss Charley, my prayers to you and your family.Polly Pope
Fremont, NE Tuesday, August 9, 2016 Charley and family and friends. OMG, I didn't even know Steve was sick. I hope you have and hold many great memories (as I do). God bless and hold you close at this time. I am so sorry for your loss.Polly Pope
Donna Reznicek Burmeste
Fremont, NE Monday, August 8, 2016 Deb,Robbie & Carol,sorry to hear of Steves passing. Thinking of your families.Steve and June Westphal
Fremont, NE Monday, August 8, 2016 Charley and family, We were so sorry to hear about Steve. Lots of fun memories from the band days. He will be missed.Sandi (Martens) Proskovec
Fremont, NE Monday, August 8, 2016 I was fortunate to have multiple connections to Steve, and even after he retired, he could make me smile at work. I would randomly get emails from kf0ms to ask me if we were still making money, or to tell me the five things your cell phone can do that might save your life. Such a thoughtful guy to take time to tease me while he was busy being happily retired. He worked hard for 43 year and Valmont is better because of that. He deserved his retirement and should have had longer to enjoy it.Not an amateur radio operator myself, I have always felt part of the family and with that have had the opportunity to know Steve for a very long time. He was a good friend and he showed up to everything; garage sales, band gigs and was always there to help celebrate anniversaries, holiday, and house-warming parties. He even came to our cancer free/done with chemo party for my daughter. That night he told me that my daughter was stubborn like her mother and wouldn't give up fighting so he always knew she would be okay. Honestly, from the time I heard Steve was sick, I thought he would be okay too, he just seemed too strong and too good to lose. Sometimes life is shorter than we expect and good people are gone to soon.
To his family, I am sorry for your lose, he was a truly great guy with a big heart. His friendship and his laughter will be missed by many.
Gary & Tami Kremlacek
Fremont, NE Monday, August 8, 2016 Charley I am so sorry to hear about Steve. You will be in our prayers! God be with you.Sharon and Larry Martens
, NE Monday, August 8, 2016 We extend our sincerest thoughts to you. From a childhood friend and neighbor to the cruise ship, the garage sale finds, the band gigs, the picnics and celebrations, the radio club, the Vamont days and the great stories about his family and grandson and "buddy"Kyle we will certainly miss Steve. Even when we visited at Legacy we heard stories and shared a few laughs. Quite a guy and a wonderful friend.Sharon and Larry Martens
Lori Mesenbrink
Fremont, NE Monday, August 8, 2016 My condolences to Steve's family. I knew Steve from working at Valmont. So sorry for your loss.Barb Lichtenberg
Omaha, NE Sunday, August 7, 2016 Steve's family,I'm saddened to hear of Steve's passing. He had great ideas while planning our 50 yr. high school class reunion this past June. I wish he had been feeling better in order to enjoy the events he helped to plan. He will be greatly missed. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Nancy Larsen
Fremont, NE Sunday, August 7, 2016 I am so sorry for your loss Charley! Thoughts and prayers to you and the family.Richard and Georganna Felt
Fremont, NE Saturday, August 6, 2016 So sorry to hear of Steve's passing. I am glad Georgia and I were able to visit him at Nye Legacy. He will be missed by everyone.Craig Bendig
, TX Saturday, August 6, 2016 To the family. Sorry for your loss. Great guy. Worked around him at valmont till he retiredDave Theophilus
Fremont, NE Saturday, August 6, 2016 I was proud to call Steve my friend. You left us too soon.73's Dave T. W0NRW
Arnold Grubbs
Fremont, NE Saturday, August 6, 2016 The news was a shock, so sudden in passing. This morning I had gotten a note that he was moving to hospice care soon, and I had hoped to get to visit.. but there was no time, I got another note a few hours after I read the first that he had passed on..He will be missed ..
larry Martens
Fremont, NE Saturday, August 6, 2016 73 old friend-- K0SW-Till we meet again