Maria Barbara Rommel

Maria married George Adam "Little George" Benkelman on 6 Jan 1880 in Denver, Denver County, Colorado. George (son of Johann Adam Benkelman and Anna Catharina Schaufele) was born on 7 Sep 1851 in Lancaster, Erie County, New York; died on 10 Feb 1929 in Alhambra, Los Angeles County, California; was buried in St. Francis Cemetery, Cheyenne County, Kansas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, July 21, 1911
Local Happenings
Page 4


Misses Bertha Benkelman of this place and Lottie Benkelman of St. Francis, Kansas, left Saturday morning on a trip to Detroit and Buffalo.

A Mrs. (sic) Lottie Benkelman of Cheyenne County, Kansas was listed, along with 12 others from that county, in the State of Kansas Directory of State Officers, Boards and Commissions, Issued by J. T. Botkin, Kansas Secretary of State on October, 1915. A PDF of this books can be viewed on Google Books.

Cass City Chronicle
September 7, 1917
The Week's Doings, Page 4

Miss Lottie Benkelman, who was a guest of Mrs. M. M. Schwegler, returned Thursday to her home in St. Francis, Kansas.

Lottie didn't marry until later in life. She had remained at home to care for her parents. She married first Farmer L. Shields and later William Maurice Ball, on 25 September 1954 in Denver, Colorado.

As of the 1955 issue of the Striffler-Benkelman broadcast, she was living in Corvallis, Oregon.

Lottie married Farmer L. Shields on 4 Apr 1929 in St. Francis, Cheyenne County, Kansas. Farmer was born about 1879 in Iowa; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Pharmacist and had a pharmacy in Kansas City, Missouri before moving to West Coast. The Striffler-Benkelman Broadcast, Volume 10, dated September 1, 1947, reported that "Frank Benkelman of Littleton, Colo. suffered a heart attack last Nov. and still is not able to be about."

A website about the historic Captain Fletcher's Inn (ca. 1865) at the Navarro Beach area of the Navarro River Redwoods State Park states that on March 20, 1931, the Gilmores sold the Inn to Frank B. Benkelman (Mendocino County Official Records, Book 58, pp. 445-446 hereafter Official Records). Frank and his wife, Effie held the property until he died. It was a prosperous period for the Inn. Several local sources say that Clark Gable and Carole Lombard spent part of their "honeymoon" at the Inn. It is possible that they spent some time at the Inn, after their marriage on March 29, 1939, since Gable liked remote places and enjoyed salmon fishing. According to Lyn Tornabene in her book, Long Live the King (New York: 1976 p. 279), Gable and Lombard spent many days fishing the Rogue River. The Benkelmans also conveyed a portion of the original property to the state of California for purposes of building a highway on May 16, 1940.(Official Records, Bk. 142, p. 266). After her husband's death, Mrs. Benkelman married a second time to Robert Linn, the father of Geneva Linn (Mrs. Frank Ray).


http://www.navarro-by-the-sea-center.org/history5.html


Art Peck also shows him as married to a Dorothy Miller, however it appears that it must have been another Frank Benkelman who married Dorothy Miller,

The following is a brief biography of Nellie Burget Miller, Poet Laureate of Colorado in 1923:
"Nellie Burget grew up in Fayette, Iowa, graduating from high school at the age of fifteen and earning a B.S. from Upper Iowa University in 1894. She married Dr. Lucas A. Miller in 1894 and in 1908 they moved to Colorado Springs. Together they had three children: Dorothy, Arnold, and Muriel Imogene. Dorothy was an accomplished schoolteacher in Denver. DOROTHY [MILLER] AND HUSBAND FRANK BENKELMAN did not have children. Arnold Miller served in World War II and ran a medical practice in Denver. Arnold and his wife Mabel had three children."

Census records, however, show that Nellie Miller's daughter Dorothy was born ca 1901 in Iowa, and at the time of the 1910 and 1920 federal census enumerations, she was still living at home with her parents in Colorado Springs, and was listed as single. By the time of the 1930 census, she was living in Haxtun, Phillips County, Colorado, and boarding in someone's else home. She was listed as single, and as a school teacher.

At the same time that Dorothy Miller is still a single schoolgirl in Colorado Springs (1910), Frank Benjamin Benkelman can be found with his wife Effie in St. Louis, and Frank, Effie and John can be found again in 1930, in California, while Dorothy Miller was a single schoolteacher in Colorado. And as Frank Benjamin Benkelman was said to have remained married to Effie until his death, it could not have been the same Frank Benkelman that married Dorothy Miller.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1910 Census
Missouri, Jackson County, Kansas City
Enumerated 23 Apr 1910
SD 5 ED 38 Sheet 11A Stamped 11
501-132-226
Benkelman, Frank B Hd m W 28 M1 1 Co Germany German Germany German Eng Prescription Clerk Drug
Benkelman, Effie Wf W FW 19 M1 1 0/0 Iowas Iowa Iowa

1920 Census
Not located

1930 Census
California, Santa Clara, San Jose Twp
Enumerated 4 Apr 1930
ED 43-4 SD 10 Sheet 3A Stamped 50
George Steet
131-79-83
Benkelman, Frank B Head R $35 M W 48 M 27 Colo NY Germany Retired
Benkelman, Effie F Wf F W 38 M 18 Mo Ind Iowa
Benkelman, John F Son M W 10 S Mo Colo Mo

Frank married Effie Fay Black before 1910. Effie was born on 6 Aug 1887 in Dallas County, Missouri; died on 7 Oct 1974 in San Jose, Santa Clara County, California. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Charles married Hertha Kerndt on 15 Jul 1913. Hertha was born on 30 Jul 1889 in Bird City, Cheyenne County, Kansas; died on 30 Apr 1968 in McDonald, Rawlins County, Kansas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Striffler-Benkelman Broadcast, Volume 10, dated September 1, 1947, had note in the "Vacations" section that read: "We are certainly looking forward to meeting Mrs. F.L. Shields of St. Francis, Kansas and Dr. and Mrs. Albert Benkelman and daughters, Barbara and Bonnie at the 1947 reunion. We hope that many more will plan their vacations so they meet with the rest of us at Uncle John's Woods on Labor Day."

Volume 22 of the same periodical, dated September 7, 1959, reported that Albert and Ruth Benkelman attended his Fiftieth graduating class reunion at St. Francis, Kansas. Six of his classmates were present.

A dentist in St. Francis, Kansas, he retired to Denver in 1947.

(Research):Census Listings:

1930 Census
Kansas, Cheyenne County, Wano, St. Francis City
ED 12-18 SD 1 Sheet 10A Stamped 300

79-84
Benkelman, George A Hd O $6000 M W 39 M 27 Kansas NY German
y Physician
Benkelman, Ruth L Wf F W 38 M 26 Kansas Illinois Illinois
Benkelman, Mary B Adopted Dtr F W 3 6/12 S Neb US US
Benkelman, Bonnie J Adopted Dtr F W 2 1/12 S Neb US US
82-8?
Shields, Farmer L Hd O $12,000 M W 51 M21 Iowa Ill Iowa President Commercial Bank
Shiels, Lottie B Wf F W 49 M 48 Colorado NY Germany

George married Ruth May Lockwood on 1 Dec 1917. Ruth was born on 2 Apr 1892 in St. Francis, Cheyenne County, Kansas; died on 13 Jun 1973 in Denver, Denver County, Colorado; was buried in St. Francis Cemetery, Cheyenne County, Kansas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Postmaster of San Jose, California.

John married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Wilmont managed the family farm at McDonald, Kansas.

Charles married Melba Hathaway Sparks on 26 Mar 1939. Melba was born on 6 Jun 1916 in Marshall, Saline County, Missouri; died on 17 Mar 2008 in Manhattan, Riley County, Kansas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He and his brother, Robert K., were alumni of Kemper Military School of Boonville, Missouri.

http://www.kemperalumni.org/

The brothers were also both veterans of World War II, and are listed online on "Bob's Journal - Kemper men in WWII, Army."

Maj. Ward E. Benkelman, 1937-39
Lt. Robert K. Benkelman, 1939-41
http://okielegacy.org/unclebob/kemperalumni15.html

The Striffler-Benkelman Broadcast, Volume 10, September 1, 1947, wrote that Ward Benkelman was a student at Kansas University in the Medical Department.

Volume 13 of the STRIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST, published September 4, 1950, reported that he and his wife were living in Honolulu, Hawaii where he was taking his internship at Tripler Hospital.

He later practiced as a physician in St. Francis, Kansas, and later still in Polson, Montana.

Ward married Mary Lewis about 1949 in New York. Mary was born on 6 Jul 1925 in New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut; died on 29 Apr 1998 in Polson, Lake County, Montana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He and his brother, Ward E., were alumni of Kemper Military School of Boonville, Missouri.

http://www.kemperalumni.org/

The brothers were also both veterans of World War II, and are listed online on "Bob's Journal - Kemper men in WWII, Army."

Maj. Ward E. Benkelman, 1937-39
Lt. Robert K. Benkelman, 1939-41
http://okielegacy.org/unclebob/kemperalumni15.html


The Striffler-Benkelman Broadcast, Volume 10, September 1, 1947, wrote that Robert K. Benkelman graduated from the University of Kansas City in Dentistry and was practicing with Dr. Cody's Dental Group in Denver.

Robert married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Striffler-Benkelman Broadcast, Volume 10, September 1, 1947, wrote that Mary Barbara Benkelman graduated from Colorado Women's College of Denver.

Volume 23 of the Striffler-Benkelman Broadcast, dated September 7, 1963, noted that Dr. Albert Benkelman's daughter, Barbara, husband and four children moved back to Denver from Seattle during the summer. The other daughter, Bonnie, husband and two children moved from Denver to Chicago where he was employed in Montgomery Ward's office.

She is shown on the SSDI as M. Barbara Park, with her last residence as Littleton, Colorado.

Mary married Herbert Alan Park in Sep 1950. Herbert was born on 21 Feb 1926 in Decatur, Macon County, Illinois; died on 21 Mar 1974. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Striffler-Benkelman Broadcast, Volume 10, September 1, 1947, reported that Bonnie Benkelman was a student at Kansas University.

Volume 23 of the Striffler-Benkelman Broadcast, dated September 7, 1963, noted that Dr. Albert Benkelman's daughter, Barbara, husband and four children moved back to Denver from Seattle during the summer. The other daughter, Bonnie, husband and two children moved from Denver to Chicago where he was employed in Montgomery Ward's office.

After her death, her daughters authored a website as a place for her family and friends to share their memories of BonnieMargaret:

http://rememberingbonniemargaret.wordpress.com/

Her listing on the SSDI:

MARGARET M JACOBS 18 Feb 1928 10 Jan 2009 (V) 35401 (Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, AL ) (none specified) 515-22-5894 Kansas

Bonnie also noted on page 5 of her manuscript that although she "may have been Dad's bonnie lass" he never legally changed her name at the time of her adoption, and in the process of trying to get a passport to visit her Aunts in Scotland and the homeland of the Benkelman's in Germany, she decided the most practical course was to begin to use her given legal name, Margaret McDonald.

To her Benkelman relatives who had know her as Bonnie growing up, she suggested they call her BonnieMargaret, or whatever they were most comfortable with.

Bonnie extensively researched the origins of the Benkelman and allied families, beginning her quest after the death of her father when her cousin Bill asked: "Bonnie, what can you tell me about the family?"

She began digging through old family letters and newspaper clippings, visiting relatives in various cities, and even hiring professional genealogists in Germany (Dr. Paul Edel of Aalen and Friedrich Wollmershauser of Stuttgart), and ultimately making a trip to German to view rhe records and the family homes in person. In the preface to her manuscript she said that producing a family history "is remarkably like getting your foot caught in a bear trap. You never intend to find yourself in either mess. It happens accidentally. But once you are committed to it, there is no quick and painless way out of it." Her goal was to publish in 1980, the year her Aunt Lottie would have been 100, and her father 90. She wrote several drafts of the manuscript, before the days of personal computers being widely available, so the long manuscripts were retyped each time. What appears to have been her final draft was completed around 1981. However, as BonnieMargaret was ever the perfectionist she never published or widely circulated her manuscript. Some copies were shared with various relatives, but under strict orders to not copy of disseminate information. Select chapters and drafts of chapters were shared with the family members those chapters pertained to, but the complete draft of the book remained in her possession. After her death, her daughters bequesthed the drafts of her book, along with the voluminous notes and documents used to support her research to the Kansas branch of the Benkelman family. Her history, she said was not a final version, it is a family version. She limited the history to following the Benkelman name, though added there was no Benkelman history without Strifflers, Rommels, Schweglers, Buehrlys, Kolbs, Krapfs, etc etc, and those peopel do pass across the stage, not always remaining.

Barney Benkelman of Helena, Montana was kind enough share a copy of the final draft with me (Melinda McLemore Strong) in 2012.

Family/Spouse: Bruce Hemming Jacobs. Bruce was born on 9 Jul 1926 in Denver, Denver County, Colorado; died on 16 Mar 1998 in Casselberry, Seminole County, Florida. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Volume 14 of the STIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST, dated September 3, 1951, shows the birth of a "Ray Charles Benkelman" to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Benkelman in Colorado.

Obituary Daily Times

BENKELMAN, Bay Morrison; 52; Denver CO>Anchorage AK; Anchorage D-N; 2003-7-6; dlp

Bay married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Bay married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Veterinarian. After living in Anchorage, Alaska, he returned to Denver to establish a pet supply store with himself in attendance.

The Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News (Online Edition)
Published in the Denver Newspaper Agency from 11/3/2007 to 11/4/2007

Dr. Charles Robert Benkelman

Charley passed away on October 30, 2007. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Janna; children, Erinn and Chad; mother, Barbara Bramley; sister, Dana (John) Hubbach; niece, Mimi (David) Tenace; nephew, Jeff (Jocelyn) Hubbach; sister-in-law, Jackie (John) Dunn. He is son of the late Dr. Robert K. Benkelman and brother of the late Bay M. Benkelman. Memorial Service will be held Monday, November 5, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. at Horan and McConaty Family Chapel, 5303 E. County Line Road, Centennial, Colorado. Donations to Bel-Rae Institute of Animal Technology c/o Dr. Charles Benkelman Memorial Scholarship, 1681 S. Dayton, Denver, CO. You may also express sentiments at www.horancares.com

(courtesy of Lorraine S. Benkelman)

Charles married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]