Coos County Democrat Obituaries, Lancaster, New Hampshire, Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Copyright of the newspaper.  Permission to include in the USGenWeb Archives
was received.

Ralph A. Benson
WWII veteran

     LANCASTER -- Ralph A. Benson, 80, of Grange Road, died on Monday,
Sept. 6, 2004, at Weeks Medical Center in Lancaster.
     Born in Springfield, Mass. on Jan. 23, 1924, he was the son of Albert
and Signe Benson of East Longmeadow, Mass.
     He served in World War II in the Pacific Theater in the medics and
later in the amphibious engineers.
     Mr. Benson was a former member of the East Longmeadow, Mass. and
Brookline Fire Department. He also served as the assistant safety
instructor for hunter safety in Brookline and Lisbon.
     Later he worked for St. Rose of Lima Church and retired from the
Littleton Hospital.
     He loved to dance and once sang with the Swedish Orphei-Drangar Choir.
     The family includes his wife of 55 years, Jacqueline (Austin) Benson;
one daughter, Carla Cooper and her husband Jim of Springfield, Mass.; two
sons, Clark Benson and his wife Valerie of Lancaster, and Larry Benson and
his wife Shari of Littleton; five grandchildren, and five
great-grandchildren.
     There will be a private service held in the spring.

Beverly Bumford

Enjoyed numerous hobbies

     WEST STEWARTSTOWN -- Beverly Bumford, 70, of 89 Washington Street,
West Stewartstown, died on Sunday evening, Sept. 26, 2004, at her home,
surrounded by her family.
     She was born on Jan. 2, 1934 in Websterville, Vt., the daughter of
Edson and Viola (Schoff) Bumford.
     Beverly was a homemaker and also worked outside the home for a number
of years. She served as a nurse's aid at the Coos County Nursing Hospital;
worked in the sewing division of Codet for several years; repaired
furniture for 14 years at Beecher Falls Division of Ethan Allen; and worked
at Daley's Laundromat.
     Her hobbies were numerous. She enjoyed puzzles, knitting, reading,
doing crossword puzzles, quilting, moose watching and bowling.
     She was an active member of the Northland American Legion Auxiliary,
Post #47, Canaan, Vt., where she worked numerous suppers and bingo with her
sister, Jill. She also served as a past member of the Pittsburg Grange. She
will be remembered for her love of family and her enjoyment of holidays
with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
     The family includes five children, Susan Flanagan of Laconia, Corinne
Brown and boyfriend, Eugene Ober of West Stewartstown, Scott Brown and wife
Shelly of West Stewartstown, Karlene Burnett and husband Rich of
Manchester, and Darlene Stone and husband Sam J. of Berlin; five sisters
and brothers, Donna Gray of Pittsburg, Jackie Flanders of Massachusetts,
Phyllis Boedecker of Wisconsin, Fredric Bumford of Manchester, and Jill Roy
of West Stewartstown; 18 grandchildren, Jeremy Flanagan, Andreanna
Flanagan, Deanna Wheeler, Angie LaMorder, Georgette Cameron, Samantha
Cameron, Sharlene Dorcett, Russell Brown, Morgan Brown, Christopher
Cameron, Crystal Kimball, Candice Walsh, Jesse Monahan, Laura Givney, Ryan
Brown, Casey Brown, Jake Brown, and Collin Brown; 17 great-grandchildren;
and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
     Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 29 from 7-9 p.m. at the
Jenkins Funeral Home in Colebrook. A graveside service will be conducted at
1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 1 at the Pittsburg Hollow Cemetery with The Rev.
Timothy McDowell officiating.
     Expressions of sympathy in Beverly's memory may be made to Scott
Brown, P.O. Box 247, West Stewartstown, NH 03597, to assist with funeral
expenses; or to a charity of one's choice.
     Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Jenkins Funeral Home,
Colebrook.

Kim M. Cowan

Foster parent, accountant

     LEWISBURG, Penn. -- Kim M. Cowan, 46, died on Wednesday, September 22,
2004 at her home after a period of failing health.
     She was born on March 26, 1958 in Rochester, N.Y., the daughter of
Robert M. and Ann (Lucas) Diltz.
     Kim was a graduate of Salem High School where she received top honors,
being listed on the Who's Who list as one of the best students in America.
She later attended the University of Windsor in Canada and the University
of Western Ontario, before receiving her bachelor of art degree in
accounting from the University of New Hampshire.
     She was an accountant her whole life. She was formerly employed with
Bedor & Associates in Littleton and Mountain View House in Whitefield,
where she worked along with her parents; currently she worked with the West
Branch Rent All Co. in Lewisburg.
     Kim was a member of St. Andrew Episcopal Church in Pennsylvania.
     She volunteered many years of her life as a foster parent in both New
Hampshire and Pennsylvania, and she not only took in children, but families
as well. In her spare time, she enjoyed gourmet cooking, reading and
sewing.
     Family members include her son, Cole R. Cowan of Lewisburg, Penn.; her
parents of Hampton Falls; three loving brothers, the Rev. Jon E. Ryan, a
Minister of Way International, Indianapolis, Ind. and his wife Lisa,
Christopher R. Ryan of Hampton Falls, and Thomas R. Ryan Sr. and his wife
Terri of Peshtigo, Wisc.; two loving sisters, Jan Ellen Ryan of Epping and
Mary Beth Voltz of Lee; many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and
uncles.
     Memorial calling hours will be held on Friday, Oct. 1, from 5 to 8
p.m. at the Brewitt Funeral Home, 14 Pine St., Exeter. A memorial service
will be held on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 2 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 43
Pine St., Exeter. Burial will follow in Hampton Falls.
     In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Kim's memory to the House
of Care, c/o Jay Smith (resident manager), 100 N. Academy Ave., Danville,
PA 17821.

Russell Crapo

Navy veteran

     WHITEFIELD -- Russell "Buckshot" Crapo, 86, of 53 Brown Street, passed
away peacefully at his residence on Sunday morning, Sept. 19, 2004, with
family at his side.
     He was born in Whitefield, the son of Harold and Stella (Harriman)
Crapo, and was a lifelong resident of this community, and this street also.
     Prior to retirement he was a construction supervisor for the Locke
Construction Company.
     He was a veteran of the Navy. He was a member of the Whitefield VFW
Post, American Legion, the White Mountain Snowmobile Association, and the
NH Guides Association. An avid outdoorsman, he loved hunting, fishing and
snowmobiling. He also was an instructor for the NRA.
     Family members include his wife, Margaret (Jordan) Crapo, of
Whitefield; four sons, Arnold Crapo of Marina, Calif., Joseph Crapo of
Salinas, Calif., Harold Crapo of New Bedford, Mass., and Robert Crapo of
Lancaster; three daughters, Bonnie Pineo, of Lisbon, Dixie Poulin of
Rochester, and Patricia Darling of Woodsville; 21 grandchildren; eight
great-grandchildren; and a brother, Harold Crapo Jr. of Bradenton, Fla.
     A graveside service will take place in St. Matthews Cemetery,
Whitefield, at 11 a.m., on Saturday, Oct. 2, and will be conducted by the
Whitefield VFW Post.
     Those who wish may make donations in his memory to the Caleb Group, 30
Highland Street, Whitefield, NH 03598.
     The Ross Funeral Home, Whitefield Chapel, is in charge of the
arrangements. Those wishing to sign an electronic register may log onto
www.rossfuneral.com.

Rita Evelyn Lacroix

Bookkeeper, enjoyed family

     LANCASTER -- Rita Evelyn Lacroix, 76, died on Saturday, Sept. 25,
2004, with her cousin by her side, at Country Village-Genesis Elder Care
Center, Lancaster where she had been a resident since June 2003.
     Born on May 13, 1928 in Boston, Mass. the daughter of Henry and
Victoria (Lacroix) Lacroix, Rita moved to the area about five years ago,
coming from Dorchester, Mass.
     Before retiring, she was a bookkeeper for different companies in the
Dorchester-Roxbury, Mass. area.
     Rita enjoyed knitting, doing puzzles and spending time with her
family. She attended St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Dorchester, Mass.
     The family includes several cousins; two great nephews and one
great-great nephew. Her sister, Lorraine Young, died previously.
     A calling hour will be held on Saturday, Oct. 2, from 11 a.m. to noon
at the Main-Armstrong Funeral Home, 59 State Street, Groveton. A Christian
funeral service will follow immediately at the funeral home, with Fr.
Daniel Deveau, pastor of St. Francis Xavier Church, Groveton officiating.
Burial will follow in the St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Groveton.
     Memorial donations may be made in Rita's name to the National Kidney
Foundation of MA, R.I., NH & VT, Inc.; 11 Vanderbilt Avenue, Suite 105;
Norwood, MA 02062-5056.
     For directions to the service or to send the family your condolences
via the online register book, go to www.legacy.com