Marian C. Behrens

Mrs Marian (Benson) Behrens 88 of Sterling died Saturday February 06, 2010 in Rockford. She was born May 16, 1921 in Oak Park, IL. The daughter of Arthur and Rose Benson. Mrs Behrens graduated from Sterling High School, attended the University of Illinois and Scovill Business School in Sterling. During WWII Marian worked at Butler Brothers in Chicago as a billing machine operator. She also worked at Green River Ordance Plant in Dixon, Illinois as a Dictaphone operator. Marian Benson married Lloyd Behrens on May 9, 1943 at Fourth Street Methodist Church in Sterling. After the wedding they went to Abilene, TX where her husband was in training with the 90 th Infantry Division Headquarters and was assigned secretary to the Commanding General G-2 Section, Counter Intelligence. Mrs Behrens also went to Fort Dix in Trenton, NJ and stayed there until Lloyds Division departed to England for the D-Day invasion at Normandy.

Mr and Mrs Behrens lived in Sterling, IL after the war and were partners owning Cashway Lumber Company for twenty four years. The Behrens moved to Sedona and Flagstaff, AZ in 1970 to be close to her family. She was secretary to her husband for thirty years in the real estate appraisal business. Lloyd and Marian were members of Top of the Town Dance Club.

Survivors include her husband Lloyd, two daughters; Vivian (Curtis) White of Rockford, and Susan (Raul) Escamillo of Wellington, NV. Eight Grandchildren and Six Great Grandchildren. She is predeceased by her parents, Daughter Joan Vicari and Son-in-law John Vicari, Brother Phillip Benson and sister Evelyn Downum.



Services at 11am Thursday February 11, 2010 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Mulford Chapel 1860 South Mulford Rd.. Visitation from 10am until time of service Thursday in the chapel.