Genevieve Gillett Bennetts, formerly of Virginia, Minnesota, died Sunday, February 19, 2012, at Waverly Gardens Presbyterian Home in North Oaks, Minnesota. Born July 22, 1918, in Superior, Wisconsin, to Mr. and Mrs. A. D. S. (Lulu Pickering) Gillett, Gen Bennetts grew up in Superior, Wisconsin, and later Eveleth, Minnesota, where her father was superintendent of the public schools. She graduated from Eveleth High School in 1935 and Eveleth Junior College in 1937. In 1939 she graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and, from 1939 to 1942, worked as a speech therapist in Wausau, Wisconsin. On June 6, 1942, she married William H. Bennetts, also of Eveleth, Minnesota. They lived in Ely, Duluth, and Virginia, Minnesota, while raising a family of five children. Later in life she returned to school, earning a Master's Degree in 1969 from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. She then worked until retirement as a speech therapist for the St. Louis County Schools, the Mt. Iron, Minnesota, Schools, and the Iron Range Rehabilitation Center. Gen was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity for Women and a life member of the National Education Association, the American Speech, Hearing and Language Association, and Chapter CI of the Minnesota P.E.O. Sisterhood. She was also a member and elder of Hope Community Presbyterian Church of Virginia, Minnesota.
Gen is survived by children: Elizabeth (Samuel) Hessel of Scottsdale, Arizona, Mary Carlson of Duluth, Minnesota, Anne Keller of Arden Hills, Minnesota, and James Bennett of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; eleven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her son John, her sister Elizabeth (John) Nason, her husband William, and her sister-in-law Annie (Raymond) Phillips.
A visitation will be held Wednesday, February 22, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. until the 2:00 p.m. Memorial Service at Hope Community Presbyterian Church, Virginia. Pastor Nathan Williams will officiate.
Memorials are preferred and may be directed to Hope Community Presbyterian Church or cancer research.
Family services provided by Bauman-Cron, A Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia. To share condolences online, please see: www.baumanfuneralhome.com .

Gathering Time for Family & Friends

Wednesday February 22, 2012 , 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Hope Community Presbyterian Church

Celebration of Life Service

Wednesday February 22, 2012 , 2:00 p.m. at Hope Community Presbyterian Church

1-888-579-7953 Code: 74804P


Facts Born: July 22, 1918
Place of Birth: Superior, WI
Death: February 19, 2012
Place of Death: North Oaks, MN
Occupation: Speech Therapist
Organizations: Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity for Women and a Life Member of the National Education Association, the American Speech, Hearing and Language Association

Memorial Donations Memorial donations can be made to:
Hope Community Presbyterian Church or Cancer Research