Obituary of Melita Marie Benko

The family of Melita Marie Benko of the Willowbrook district, beloved wife of Richard Benko sadly announces her passing on Monday, November 21, 2022. Melita was 64 years opf age. Prayers will be held on Sunday, November 27 at 7:00p.m. from St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church. The Funeral Liturgy will take place on Monday, November 28 at 10:00a.m. from St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church. Family & friends wishing to support the family virtually may do so by clicking on the link below beginning at 9:45a.m.https://www.facebook.com/yourfamilylikeapartofours/videos The interment will follow in the Garden of St. Luke, Yorkton Memorial Gardens. Memorials in memory of Melita may be made to St. Mary's Church Building Fund (155 Catherine St., Yorkton , SK S3N 0B9) as gifts of remebrance. BENKO – The family of Melita Benko of the Willowbrook district, beloved wife of Richard Benko sadly announce her passing on November 21st. Melita was born in Yorkton, SK on March 4 1958 to Andrew and Susan (Stobbe) Dreger. She attended Ebenezer Elementary School for grades one to six than the Composite for grades seven to nine. She graduated from the Yorkton Regional High School in 1976, during this time she also completed her grade 10 piano from the Royal Conservatory of Music. Following graduation, Melita attended Wascana Nursing Institute and obtained her RN in 1978. She was employed at St. Peter's Hospital in Melville. On June 16, 1979 she married Richard Benko. They were blessed with a daughter, Katherine on April 13, 1987 than a son, Mark on January 26, 1989 and another daughter, Brandi on January 2 1991. Melita than continued her nursing career at the Yorkton Regional Hospital till 1992. She decided at this time that she would farm along with Richard and stay at home to raise her children. In those years she also taught piano and organ lessons. She also enjoyed playing the organ for St. Mary's church. Her other passions included sewing for her children, baking and playing the piano and organ as much as possible in her spare time. She enjoyed many family vacations and outings with her family where many great memories were made together. Melita also found great joy in gardening and grew a plentiful garden every summer. She helped with hauling the grain and making meals each harvest. Her greatest joys were her children and nothing brought her greater joy than her three children and most recently her two grandsons’, Braxton and Brody. She adored them and enjoyed sharing her sewing skills in making them numerous blankets and pillows. Melita had a big heart and was a kind and loving person that always wanted the best for everyone she knew and she will be missed by many. Melita was predeceased by her father Andrew Dreger in 1984, her mother Susan Dreger in 2011, her infant niece Angela Dreger in 1991, her sister-in-law Sharon Dreger in 2009, and her father-in-law Nick Benko in 2012. She is survived by her husband Richard of 43 years, children Katherine (Justin) Conrad and their children Braxton and Brody, Mark (Natasha) Benko, Brandi (Matthew) Benko, mother-in-law Eleanor Benko, brother John Dreger, David (Chris) Dreger, Jason (Bev) Dreger and her twin sister Marita (Michael) Smylie, sister-in-law Sylvia (Don) Lautner, brother in law's David Benko and Bradley (Debbie) Benko, as well as many numerous nieces and nephews. Prayers were held on Sunday, November 27th and the Funeral Liturgy on Monday, November 28th, at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Yorkton with Rev. Father Leonid Malkov, C.Ss.R. as the Celebrant. The responses were led by Ron Wizniak and Laurie Fedorowich, assisted by choir members. The cross bearer was Elaine Dohms and the epistle reader was Bev Dreger. The interment followed in the Garden of St. Luke at Yorkton Memorial Gardens with Glenn Lang, Justin Conrad, Anthony Chambers, Eddy Dreger, Randy Kruda and Jordan Dreger serving as the casket bearers. Memorials in memory of Melita may be made to St. Mary’s Church Building Fund as gifts of remembrance. Condolences to the family can be posted at baileysfuneralhome.com.