Ruth K. Mahaffey

Ruth K. Mahaffey

1927 to 2014

Funeral services for Ruth K. Mahaffey, 86 of Blair, Neb. will be held Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Blair. Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to service at the church. Graveside services will be in the Blair Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to First Lutheran Church, Oaks Mission or the Ruth Oberndorfer scholarship fund. Ruth died on Feb. 24 in Omaha.

Ruth K. Mahaffey was born on Dec. 8, 1927 in Potter to Arthur W. and Martha (Schwartz) Oberndorfer. She grew up in the Potter area and attended school at St. Paul’s Lutheran Parochial school near Potter. On Feb. 16, 1947 she was united in marriage to R. Harvey Benzel. He preceded her in death in 1967. On Feb. 22, 1972 she wed Charles “Chuck” Mahaffey. After the couple’s wedding they made their home in Juneau, AK, and Arlington, Va. After their retirement the couple moved back to Nebraska residing in Sidney and then Blair. Her final years were spent at Brighton Gardens in Omaha.

Ruth enjoyed traveling and gardening but especially enjoyed spending time with her family.

She is survived by sons Richard (Monica) Benzel of Elkhorn, Robert Benzel and partner Gerry Sullivan of Omaha, Randall (Patti) Benzel of Omaha, Russell Benzel of Fairbanks, AK, step son Steve Mahaffey of Fairbanks AK, stepdaughter Cher (Peter) Gunby of Bend, Ore., several grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husbands R. Harvey Benzel and Charles “Chuck” Mahaffey, brothers Normund and Leonard Oberndorfer, sister Clarice Kuehn, stepsons Mike and Pat Mahaffey and grandson Shawn Gunby.

Campbell Aman Funeral Home in Blair, Neb. is in charge of Ruth’s care and funeral arrangements.