Daughter of Wencil and Josefa (Stager) Shaker.

HILLSBORO SENTRY ENTERPRISE, Hillsboro, Wisconsin, September 4, 1958: MRS. BENISH RITES AT ST. JOHN'S:
Mrs. Joseph Benish, 77, a highly-regarded pioneer resident of this community, passed away Saturday, August 30, 1958, at a Viroqua hospital. She had been in failing health for some time and recently her condition had become critical.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, September 2, at nine a.m. at the Hart Funeral Home and at nine-thirty in St. John's Catholic Church in Union township. The Reverend Father Robert McKillip officiated at the rites. Burial was in St. John's cemetery.
Josephine Shaker, daughter of Wencil Shaker, and Josephine Stager Shaker, was born July 30, 1880 in the Town of Forest, Vernon County, Wisconsin. She attended the Burnham school (now the Hillsdale school) and grew to young womanhood in that community.
She was married February 5, 1901 to Joseph Benish. The wedding ceremony took place in St. Theresa's Catholic Church at Union Center, with the Reverend Father Prucha officiating.
Mr. and Mrs. Benish first established their home on a farm in the Town of Greenwood where they resided for twelve years. Then they moved to a farm in the Town of Union where they resided until in 1945 when they moved to the City of Hillsboro where they have since made their home. To Mr. and Mrs. Benish were born three daughters and nine sons, all of whom survive.
Surviving Mrs. Benish are her husband, Joseph Benish of Hillsboro; three daughters, Agnes (Mrs. August Jelinek of Hillsboro), Helen (Mrs. Jeffry Stanek of Hillsboro) and Mary (Mrs. Donald Cepek of Hillsboro); nine sons, James, Albert, John, Edwin and Raymond of Hillsboro; Joseph of West Covina, California and Emil and Adolph of LaFarge; thirty-nine grandchildren; many other relatives and a host of friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wencil Shaker; one sister, Mary (Mrs. Frank Smith); and seven brothers, Joseph, Anton, Albert, James, Jacob, Frank and John Shaker.
Mrs. Benish was the last surviving member of the family of Mr. and Mrs. Wencil Shaker who were among the earliest settlers in the Town of Forest, Vernon County. In her death there is mourned the loss of a beloved wife, mother and grandmother who will always be remembered for her great and generous kindness, her thoughtfulness and helpful guidance behalf of others. A lady of sincere spiritual conviction, she was a member of St. John's Catholic Church and for many years an active worker in the Altar Society of that parish. Through steadfast faith, devotion to her family and loyal friendship she won a treasured remembrance in the hearts of all those who were her associates and who now deeply mourn her death.