Phyliss Ashmun Benn, 86, of LaPorte passed away on Monday February 7 at Brentwood Assisted Living after a two year struggle with cancer. She was surrounded by her family in the final days.
Phyliss Benn was born on August 26, 1924, in Washburn, Wisconsin, to Van S. and Margaret (Fiege) Ashmun and spent her early years in Ashland, Wisconsin. In 1946 she earned a BA degree in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where she was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Employed as a reporter at the Niles, Michigan, Daily Star, she met and married a fellow journalist, Donald W. Benn, on August 30, 1947. In 1953 they moved permanently to LaPorte, where Don later became managing editor of the LaPorte Herald-Argus.
For more than 20 years Phyliss was active in Girl Scouts of the USA as troop leader and board member of the Northern Indiana Girl Scout Council. She was a past president of the Tenth Street School PTA and of the LaPorte PTA Council. She was a life member of the American Association of University Women and a past president of the LaPorte Branch.
Phyliss returned to college in 1972 at Valparaiso University, where she earned a law degree in 1975. She was the first woman in modern times to practice law in LaPorte and continued to do so until retirement in 1996. She also was the first female member of the LaPorte City Bar Association and its president during the 1988-1989 term. An active Democrat, Phyliss was a precinct committeewoman and an official delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1976. She served as party representative on the LaPorte County Election Board from 1986 to 1994. She was a member of the LaPorte City Park and Recreation Board and an original board member and chairperson of the LaPorte Human Rights Commission.
A dedicated environmentalist, she was an early activist and member of the Potawatomi Audubon Society, where she served as a board member and president. She also was a founder of the LaPorte County Conservation Trust, a past board member of the LaPorte County Park Foundation, and a volunteer at Fernwood Nature Center. For years she photographed birds, flowers, and butterflies, then wrote and presented environmental programs for school children and organizations in the county.
She is survived by their children: David W. Benn (Judith), of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Martha A. Benn, LaPorte; Ruth L. Benn (Edmund Hedemann) of Brooklyn, New York; and Robert Samuel Benn (Kelly), LaPorte; and three grandchildren, Christopher Paul and Chandler Ashmun Benn, both of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Tyler Lee Benn, LaPorte. Also surviving are two sisters, Mary A. Miller, LaPorte, and Nancy (James) Clark, of Sarasota, Florida. Donald Benn preceded her in death on July 13, 1998. In addition, she was preceded in death by parents and by Harry B. Carbon, her companion of later years.
Cremation has taken place and ashes will be privately buried with Donald in Clay Center, Kansas, and scattered near her girlhood home near Ashland, Wisconsin. A celebration of her life will be held at Cummings Lodge in LaPorte's Soldiers Park in the spring (date to be announced).
The family is grateful for the care given her during the last months by Gail Laughlin of VNA Hospice of LaPorte County, and Shelly Sunderland and her caregiver team including Lisa Tibbs, Felicia Tibbs, and Patty Gillespie. Memorials may be made to the VNA Hospice, 901 S. Woodland Ave., Michigan City IN 46350; the LaPorte County Conservation Trust, 405 Maple Avenue, LaPorte IN 46350; or the American Civil Liberties Union, 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York NY 10004. Cutler Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Phyliss Benn was born on August 26, 1924, in Washburn, Wisconsin, to Van S. and Margaret (Fiege) Ashmun and spent her early years in Ashland, Wisconsin. In 1946 she earned a BA degree in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where she was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Employed as a reporter at the Niles, Michigan, Daily Star, she met and married a fellow journalist, Donald W. Benn, on August 30, 1947. In 1953 they moved permanently to LaPorte, where Don later became managing editor of the LaPorte Herald-Argus.
For more than 20 years Phyliss was active in Girl Scouts of the USA as troop leader and board member of the Northern Indiana Girl Scout Council. She was a past president of the Tenth Street School PTA and of the LaPorte PTA Council. She was a life member of the American Association of University Women and a past president of the LaPorte Branch.
Phyliss returned to college in 1972 at Valparaiso University, where she earned a law degree in 1975. She was the first woman in modern times to practice law in LaPorte and continued to do so until retirement in 1996. She also was the first female member of the LaPorte City Bar Association and its president during the 1988-1989 term. An active Democrat, Phyliss was a precinct committeewoman and an official delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1976. She served as party representative on the LaPorte County Election Board from 1986 to 1994. She was a member of the LaPorte City Park and Recreation Board and an original board member and chairperson of the LaPorte Human Rights Commission.
A dedicated environmentalist, she was an early activist and member of the Potawatomi Audubon Society, where she served as a board member and president. She also was a founder of the LaPorte County Conservation Trust, a past board member of the LaPorte County Park Foundation, and a volunteer at Fernwood Nature Center. For years she photographed birds, flowers, and butterflies, then wrote and presented environmental programs for school children and organizations in the county.
She is survived by their children: David W. Benn (Judith), of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Martha A. Benn, LaPorte; Ruth L. Benn (Edmund Hedemann) of Brooklyn, New York; and Robert Samuel Benn (Kelly), LaPorte; and three grandchildren, Christopher Paul and Chandler Ashmun Benn, both of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Tyler Lee Benn, LaPorte. Also surviving are two sisters, Mary A. Miller, LaPorte, and Nancy (James) Clark, of Sarasota, Florida. Donald Benn preceded her in death on July 13, 1998. In addition, she was preceded in death by parents and by Harry B. Carbon, her companion of later years.
Cremation has taken place and ashes will be privately buried with Donald in Clay Center, Kansas, and scattered near her girlhood home near Ashland, Wisconsin. A celebration of her life will be held at Cummings Lodge in LaPorte's Soldiers Park in the spring (date to be announced).
The family is grateful for the care given her during the last months by Gail Laughlin of VNA Hospice of LaPorte County, and Shelly Sunderland and her caregiver team including Lisa Tibbs, Felicia Tibbs, and Patty Gillespie. Memorials may be made to the VNA Hospice, 901 S. Woodland Ave., Michigan City IN 46350; the LaPorte County Conservation Trust, 405 Maple Avenue, LaPorte IN 46350; or the American Civil Liberties Union, 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York NY 10004. Cutler Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
A service summary is not available