BENSON -- Bernice Jean Gerdes, 75, of Benson died at 1:35 p.m. Sunday (Feb. 4, 2001) at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria. Her funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Benson. Burial will be in Clayton Township Cemetery, Benson. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Folkers-Froelich Memorial Home, Minonk; and one hour before the service Thursday at the church. Memorials may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church Building Fund.

Mrs. Gerdes was born March 14, 1925, in Livingston County, a daughter of Louis and Melissa Jane Akridge Carby. She married Albert Roger Gerdes on June 12, 1947, at Benson. He died May 11, 1975. Survivors include a sister, Irene (Jim) Jordan, Streator; and a brother, LeRoy (Jean) Carby, Mesa, Ariz. She was preceded in death by her parents, four sisters and two brothers. She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and also a member of WEL at her church. She was a member of Benson American Legion Auxiliary 454, where she had been a member since 1948 and also served as a past president.