June Faith (Major) Benton

June Faith (Major) Benton left us on Saturday, March 16, 2024, then traveled to the Beautiful Side of God's Tapestry.

June was born on June 25, 1936, in Buffalo, NY. Her parents were Kenneth K. Major and Elsie Major (Rauch), of Holland NY. Her Brother, Kenneth (Butch) Major and spouse Mary Major (Dugan) live in Holland NY. They have four children, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

June married John Thomas Benton on October 12, 1957. They have three daughters. Jill Buck (Bob), Joanna Benton-Thoms (Scott) and Jody Larson (Chris). Grandchildren: Leslie Nelson (Buck); Lee Thoms and Valerie Thoms; Sarah Wernberg (Larson), Kirsten Lippart (Larson). Great-granddaughters: Savannah (Wernberg); Ava June (Lippart).

All three daughters, spouses and grandchildren are contributing members to society. Jill is a retired physical therapist and family caregiver; Joanna is a technology solutions consultant and Jody is an accomplished artist and psychological therapist. They are all super proud of each other and the accomplishments of their families.

June graduated from Holland NY Central School in 1954. June Received her RN at Wyoming County Community Hospital (WCCH) in 1957. WCCH was affiliated with the University of Buffalo (UB). After receiving her B.S. degree from St. Francis University in 1983, June graduated from the Grant Hospital Clinical Training Program for Substance Abuse Counseling (Certification in Addiction Counseling (C.A.C.D.) June received Certification in Bereavement Counseling by attending conferences at the Center for Loss and Life Transition in Fort Collins, CO. The Center is affiliated with Colorado State University.

June's most recent service was as the first official Bereavement Coordinator for Gundersen Health Care. Her activities included a group of Hospice Professionals who served dying patients and their families. Following her retirement, she volunteered facilitating Grief Education Support Groups.

Prior to this, June was involved with substance abuse counseling and several years developing and implementing bereavement programs for the independent, non-profit Hospice of Northeastern Illinois. She also worked with Upjohn Home Healthcare Systems tending to patients' needs and coordinating a staff of 175 registered nurses, nurses' aides, and home companions.

June commented that in the beginning, "I was fortunate I could stay home while our daughters were growing up, and when the youngest started kindergarten, I started doing psychiatric nursing!"

Included in her many volunteer activities with church and community, June and her husband John volunteered several summers with On Eagles Wings, an ecumenical aviation ministry serving the wilderness in sub-arctic Canada. This included counseling in grief education and support groups, vacation Bible Schools as well as working in soup kitchens.

June was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandparent. She counseled many of our daughters' friends and international students from Viterbo University. We are very proud of Violeta Kadieva Stanley (Justin) from Bulgaria. She is now a professor at Texas Wesleyan and has 2 children.

We will all miss June's loving presence, calm demeaner and Christian Strength.We are very thankful for the Gundersen Health Care Medical Team and Hospice in La Crosse, Wisconsin and the staff at Hearten House III Memory Care Facility Holmen, Wisconsin.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 21 N. Hill St., La Crescent, MN 55947. Visitation will be held from 9:30 am until the time of services at the church. Pastor Kary Jonas will officiate. Graveside services will be held at Prince of Peace Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Donations may be sent to:

Hearten House III Memory Care, 101 Juniper Lane, Holmen, WI 54636.

GLH Hospice, 1900 South Avenue, La Crosse, WI 54601.

On Eagles Wings, 10072 164 St NW, Edmonton, AB, T5P 4Y3 https://oneagleswings.us/donate-donations/

The Pelli School, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 21 North Hill Street, La Crescent, MN 55947.