Mary Lou Benedict, 72, was born Nov. 10, 1949 in Yuma, and passed into eternity Dec. 18, 2021 in Sterling, CO. She was 2nd of 4 daughters born to Charles “Jay” and Hildegard Bruns Benedict, namely Ellen, Mary, Wanda, and Barbara.
Mary attended Lutheran grade school three years, then Yuma public schools. In her twenties, she fought cancer twice and won.
On Aug. 16, 1974 she wed Richard Glenn Stoops in Merino, and said he was the best part of her life.
Raised in Yuma’s St. John Lutheran Church, Mary later attended Faith Tabernacle in Merino with her mother-in-law, Violet Stoops. She and Richard attended Church Alive, then Turning Point Christian Outreach Center. Annual highlights were Stoops Family Reunions each August, which they faithfully spearheaded.
Together, she and Richard worked about five years in the “oil patch” of North Dakota and Texas with his brother Earl, and some CO-KS wheat fields with his elder brother, Dale.
In 1989 Mary and Richard settled in Sterling and earned their GEDs together at NJC. While he trucked, she worked at Trinidad Bean, Sterling Beef, SavoMat, convenience stores, pizza delivery, and more.
Mary was happiest in jeans, western shirt, ballcap, boots and spurs, drinking her Mountain Dew and driving her blue Jeep. With a sharp memory for dates, she enjoyed telling entertaining stories, as well as cooking, housepainting, and haircutting.
She was also fond of playing catch, drawing, collecting gadgets, crochet, tat, hunt, fish, and giving toys to children. She helped raise a great-nephew, Jason Jelle, and loved her Jack Russells, Sugar and Spice.
Though she had serious health issues, she was Richard’s faithful caregiver. A favorite Scripture on her desk was Joshua 1:9, and she is at peace with her Lord.
She will be greatly missed by her loving husband, family, and many friends.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Jay and Hilda Benedict, parents-in-law, Frank and Violet Stoops, sister, Ellen Juranek (Wray), and other in-laws, Dale Stoops, Wm. Earl Stoops, Vedra Reed, Lois McMillan, Sandra Sanchez, and other extended family members.
Mary leaves her husband of 47 years, Richard Stoops (Sterling); two younger sisters, Wanda Moseley of Fort Morgan, Barbara (Sam) Graton of Yuma; many nieces and nephews, including her special great-nephew, Jason Jelle, of Sterling.
Memorial service is 11:00 a.m. on March 19, 2022, at Rock Assembly, South 4th Avenue and Columbine, Sterling. Stormy Production will Live Stream the service on Facebook. Officiants are Pastor Phil Kloberdanz, Sterling, and nephew, David Stoops of Maple Valley, WA.
Chaney-Reager Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Cremation was made, and inurnment will follow at Yuma Cemetery.
2022-03-09