Ben Marshall III

BLODGETT, Mo. — Ben F. "Benny" Marshall III, 81, of Blodgett died Monday, Dec. 1, 2008, at his home.

He was born Oct. 14, 1927, in St. Louis, son of Ben F. and Catherine Mooney Marshall Jr. He and Elizabeth "Betty" Anderson were married Feb. 23, 1952, in Sikeston, Mo.

Marshall was a retired farmer, former mayor of Blodgett, past president of Oran State Bank and was a Missouri Colonel during Warren E. Hearnes' administration.

He was a former board member of South Scott County Ambulance District and the Saint Francis Medical Center Foundation and was chairman of Scott County Democratic Committee 40 years.

Marshall was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus and was a charter member of Sikeston Elks Lodge 2319.

He served in the U.S. Army.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Frank Marshall of Sikeston; three daughters, Mary Beth Beitel of Encampment, Wyo., Sally Kerkorian Hoggard of Jackson, Ellen Swanson of Janesville, Wis.; two brothers, Tom Marshall of Sikeston, Jack Marshall of Cape Girardeau; and nine grandchildren.

A parish prayer service will be held at 4 p.m. Friday at St. Francis Church, with visitation to follow until 7 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. Scott Sunnenberg officiating. Burial will be in Sikeston City Cemetery.

Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Sikeston or Saint Francis Medical Center Foundation in Cape Girardeau.