VINTON:  Donovan A. Benfer, age 92, died Sunday, March 16, 2008 at the Vinton Lutheran Home following an extended illness.
     Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 AM, on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Vinton with Rev. Kären Larson officiating.  Interment will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton.  Friends may call at Phillips Funeral Home, 212 E. 6th St in Vinton, from 5 to 7 PM on Tuesday.  A Memorial Fund has been established.
     Donovan, also known as "Don" and "D.A." was born to Leslie and Hazel (Dunston) Benfer on July 12, 1915 in Benton County.  He attended school in Vinton and graduated from High School in 1932.  He also attended Iowa State College in Ames.  He was very active in 4-H and while showing his sheep and hogs at the Iowa State Fair he met his future wife, Arlein Doris Kroymann.  They were united in marriage on March 7, 1934 in the Christian Church in Ames, Iowa.  They made their home and raised their four children on farms near Vinton and Garrison.  They celebrated their seventy-third Wedding Anniversary one-month prior to Arlein's death on April 7, 2007.
     Don farmed in the Vinton and Garrison area and was elected to the Garrison School Board   He served as Board President during his 1952 to 1961 term.  He never missed a basketball game during those years and was pleased to serve as a blind scout for the Garrison Girl's team.   He and Arlein retired from the farm in 1978 and built a new home in Vinton.  During their retirement years they enjoyed being with their family, gardening and caring for the beautiful flowers that they treasured.
     Don is survived by his children, Bradley (Shirley) Benfer of Vinton, Terry (Shirley) Benfer of Cedar Rapids, Sharon (Larry) Koster of Blairstown, and Kay (Don) Krotz of Cedar Rapids; seven grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; and his sisters, Marcella (Ralph) Jackson, and Beverly Benfer and her friend, Pat Schroder all of Cedar Rapids.
     In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by one grandson; one great-great granddaughter; and his brother, Stanley Benfer.