Funeral services were held April 26, at the United Methodist Church in Harris for Alice Benson Lorch who passed away April 23 at the Lake Park Care Center. Rev. Chris Ebbers officiated. Interment was at the Ocheyedan Township Cemetery.

Alice Benson Lorch, daughter of Harrison and Isabel (Henderson Thayer, was born Sept. 11, 1912, in Ismay, Montana. She lived her youth in Montana and Ocheyedan. She attended school in Ocheyedan. She started teaching country schools in Harris, Ocheyedan and May City when she was 16 years old.

She attended Sioux Falls College and graduated in 1969 with a degree in education. Alice taught school in Sibley, Ocheyedan, Harris, Lake Park, Arnolds Park, Spirit Lake, and round Lake, Minnesota. She taught many generations of area families. She retired from fulltime teaching in 1974 and continued as a substitute teacher.

Alice had a life membership in Delta Kappa Gama. She was a member of the National Teachers Society and National Education Association. She was active in the communities in which she lived and the churches she attended.

Alice loved music and played the organ in church. She loved her family and grandchildren.

She was united in marriage to Harold Benson of Harris on June 21, 1936, in Oakland, California. They lived in Harris. Harold passed away in May 1980.

She was united in marriage to otto Lorch in January 1983 in Harris. They lived in Melvin and Mesa, Arizona. They enjoyed traveling together. otto passed away in November 1996.

Those left to cherish her memories are two sons and daughter in law: Robert and Tanya Benson of Coer d'Alene, Idaho and Harold "Bud" Benson of Harris; one daughter and son in law, Jeri and Tim Lemker of Harris, 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one brother and sister-in-law, Forrest and Ruth Thayer of Santa Cruz, California.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Harold and Otto, three brothers and two sisters.