Merle Ruth Bennett Dies At 93

Merle Ruth Bennett, age 93 of Nashua, died Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, at the Cedar Vale Assisted Living in Nashua.A private family burial will take place at a later date.Merle Ruth Bennett was born July 29, 1923, in Nashua. The daughter of Harry and Nellie (Wright) Swinton. She attended Grant Country School before going to Nashua High School. After high school she went to Gates College to study secretarial work.Her first job out of college was working for the State of Alabama while she lived in Montgomery, Alabama. After four years there she came back to work for Oliver Tractor and later White Farms. Merle retired in 1983 from White Farms. She married Dean Doyle in 1946. To this union three children were born. The couple later divorced. On May 5, 1972, she was united in marriage to Richard Bennett II in Mason City. The couple had met when Merle caught Richards eye and Richard asked her out for a cup of coffee. The couple lived life to the fullest. Going on many different trips around the United States and spending many winters in Florida and Arizona. Other than traveling, Merle enjoyed making quilts, crocheting, dancing and playing cards. Merle’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren meant the world to her. Her face would always light up when they walked in the room. She was a member of the Little Brown Church and the Oliver Management Club.Merle is survived by her husband, Richard Bennett of Nashua; two sons, Larry (Jan) Doyle of Brook Park, Minn., Lynn Doyle of Cedar Falls; two daughters, Lorene Hirsch of Nashua, Connie (Ted) Halter of Sun City, Calif.; one brother Charles (Rita) Swinton of Nashua; seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; one son-in-law Don Hirsch of Nashua.She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Hattie Dietz, Mary Dietz, Irene O’Brien; brothers Art Swinton, Clyde Swinton, Bob Swinton, Fred Swinton; sons Richard III and Tim Bennett.