A Mass of Christian burial for Dolores von Arx Benz will be at 11 a.m.Wednesday August 28 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Portland Oregon. Burial at Mt. Calvary cemetery, with reception immediately following.

Dolores Benz was born a century ago on the family farm in Rural Mound Prairie Township, near Hokah, Minnesota- the 11th of 14 children of Emma and W.J. von Arx. The von Arx house was filled with music, “schtickeling” and hard work. At an early age, Dolores’ job was to make two pies daily, which along with the pitcher of home-made wine, were always part of the huge noon dinner. At 94, Dolores could still kick out an apple pie in 25 minutes – from peeling the apples to into the oven. Her musical abilities started young too- playing piano by ear, and quickly keeping up with her raucous singing siblings. At 19, she moved “into town” -LaCrosse, WI, where she worked two jobs, playing piano in the evenings.

She met Don Benz, who sat behind her in a typing class 1947. They married a year later on June 5, 1948 in Hokah, Their honeymoon car trip to Portland was Dolores’ 1st road trip, 1st time driving a car, and 1st time more than 200 miles from home. In 1950, she and Don purchased property from Emma Benz, Don’s grandmother, who still lived on the 1890s era farm in the Sylvan area. This has been their only home together, where Dolores has lived for 74 years.

In 1952, Dolores and Don joined Portland Golf Club, with Dolores taking up this “strange sport” several years later. She was a natural, had her first hole-in-one before Don’s, and enjoyed playing golf well into her 90s. Dolores was runner-up in the Club championship in 1972, and was the Senior Woman’s champion in 2000. Besides annual play in the Astoria Coast and Victoria Empress tournaments for decades, Dolores and Don schlepped their clubs all around Europe in the trunk of their beloved Peugeots, to eventually play St. Andrews. A vacation? Gotta include golf!

Dolores served on the Women’s Activities Board in 15 different positions (several multiple times) over a 35 year span (1964-1999), including President in 1979. She also played the piano at all the Women’s functions for more than 40 years, and loved participating in the yearly costumed extravaganzas the Ladies staged at PGC. She also expanded her links activity to ice skating on the PCGC pond, and whacking an opossum to oblivion with a 5 iron, while looking for her ball in the creek on 10.

Dolores was an outgoing “people person”, who loved to entertain. For over 70 years, she played piano for charity events, variety shows, school and church events, weddings, private parties, and Christmas caroling. There were always extra people at the Benz table for dinner, Dolores was an amazing host, and her cooking and baking were legendary. With five kids, Dolores baked 8 loaves of bread per week for decades, cutting back to 2 in her 80s.

The Benz children learned the word “ecology” from their mom. Way before “Earth Day”, Dolores was composting, making “eggshell tea” fertilizer, and already the queen of recycling. For several years, she raised Golden and China pheasants from 2-day old chicks-to replenish the local population decimated by the opossums-who had no natural predators. The birds all imprinted on her, and even as wild adults, they would come flying up on her deck when she called them with her signature “buacc buacc” mama-pheasant” call. A farmer at heart, she loved her garden, especially her fruit trees and summer vegetables.

She was an active member of the Assistance League for over 40 years, and loved working in the Dental Clinic, and the Beaverton Thrift store, the latter until age 94. In her later years, Dolores enjoyed her bridge and book clubs with the “much younger ladies”, as long as it didn’t drag on too long. Then her foot would start to tap – itching to get outside for a walk or a quick dig in the dirt.

Dolores was a kind and generous soul, with a special place in her heart for all children and people “down on their luck”. As her friends and family members aged past her, she took “visiting the sick” to new levels: delivering food, books, flowers, and good conversation to many friends no longer able to live on their own. Dolores had her wish honored and supported by living and dying in her own home , the house “that Don built”.

Dolores is survived by her five children – Tom (Diane) and Bill of Portland, Heidi (Scott Merritt) of Bellevue, WA, Paul (Sue) of Scottsdale AZ, and Robert (Patricia) of Hermosa Beach, CA; 11 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. Her beloved husband Don died in 2011.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to St. Mary’s Home for Boys 16535 S.W. Tualatin Valley Hwy. Beaverton OR 97003