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Lela Catharine (Thompson) Bennett went into the loving arms of Jesus Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, at MercyOne Newton Medical Center, at the age of 91 years, one week. A visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. A private family service will be held. Masks are required to attend the visitation and social distancing will be enforced. Memorials to the West View Cemetery may be left at the funeral home.
Lela was born Dec. 2, 1929, in Grinnell to Edward and Alvira (Weeks) Thompson. She was united in marriage with Robert W. Bennett Feb. 10, 1947, in Ottumwa. They lived in Ottumwa after they were married, later farmed around Grinnell and Monroe, before buying a house in Reasnor. Lela studied hard and received her GED while raising six children. After retirement, they moved to Newton. Lela worked at Stevenâs Grill on the northside of the square, at Earl May, the Childrenâs Recycling Shop and as a lette