Vivian Benzel, age 88, of Hot Springs, SD, entered into eternal life Wednesday, September 29, 2010, at the Heritage Estates Nursing Home in Gering, NE.

Vivian was born July 27, 1922, in Hardin, MT, to Gile A. and Lola I. (Pearce) Litton. She grew up and married Edward Benzel in Hardin. They moved to the Hot Springs area in 1953 where she and Ed worked the family farm on the Angostura Project. To this union five children were born.

After her children were older she worked in Hot Springs at the Ben Franklin Store, J.C. Penney and the State Veterans Home until she retired.

Vivian enjoyed gardening, raising flowers and many other hobbies.

Vivian is survived by her sons, Jerry (Charleene) Benzel of Union Grove, WI; Kenneth (Deb) Benzel of Butler, IN; daughters, Katherine (Gary) Lindley of Gering, NE; Sharon Schwartz of Oconomowoc, WI; daughter-in-law, Jane Benzel of Hot Springs; brothers, Gene (Pat) Litton of Wright, WY; Roger (June) Litton of Del Rio, TX; sister, Lois Thornhill of Billings, MT; thirteen grandchildren; twenty great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Edward; son, Dale; brother, Ronald Litton and sister, Betty Joan Litton.

Visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., Sunday, October 3, 2010, at McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Hot Springs.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m., Monday, October 4, 2010, at St. John's Lutheran Church near Hot Springs with Pastor Dwayne Hunzeker officiating.

Interment will be at 2:00 p.m., October 4, 2010, at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD.

A memorial has been established in Vivian's name to benefit the St. John's Lutheran Building Fund or the Hot Springs Senior Citizens Center.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Hot Springs. Written condolences can be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.