Illa June Long
The funeral for Illa June Long of LaMoure, ND, will be held on Thursday, August 7, 2003, at 11:00 AM at the Zoar Lutheran Church in LaMoure, with Reverend John Estrem officiating. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 2 to 5 at Dahlstrom Funeral Home in LaMoure, and from 6 to 8, with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at the church. Burial will be at the Rosehill Cemetery, LaMoure.
Illa June Benson, daughter of Earle and Ruby (Gunderson) Benson was born on November 9, 1962, in Oakes, North Dakota. She grew up and attended school in LaMoure, graduating from LaMoure High School in 1981. Illa attended North Dakota State University, before returning to LaMoure. She was united in marriage to Jeffery Long on June 30, 1982, at the Zoar Lutheran Church in LaMoure. Illa ran a home daycare and worked for Hovland Veterinarian Services in LaMoure. In 1993, she started working at LaMoure Feed and Seed, where she continued to work until the time of her death.
Illa was a member of the Zoar Lutheran Church and was active in the Lutheran Youth Organization, Lutheran Brotherhood, and served as a Sunday school teacher. She was active in the James River Riders Saddle Club, Dakota Riders Drill Team, and the LaMoure Public School Board. In 1997, Illa traveled to Peru for two weeks, where she worked with Father Jack's Missionary. She was named Rural Community Person of the Year in LaMoure in 2002. Illa's children were her life, and she enjoyed going with Jeff to all of their Loboe sporting events. She was a very active volunteer in the community and will be missed by many.
Illa died on Sunday August 3, 2003, due to injuries suffered in an automobile accident. She was 40 years old.
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She is survived by her husband, Jeff, LaMoure, ND; three children, Vanessa, Sioux Falls, SD, and Jennifer and Clayton, at home in LaMoure, ND; her parents, Earle and Ruby Benson, LaMoure, ND; one brother, Erling Benson, Auburn, WA; two sisters, Iris (Bob) Leppert, Coeur D Alene, ID, and Ione (Denny) Pherson, Rutland, ND; her mother-in-law, Alice (Duane) Fuchs, LaMoure, ND; one brother-in-law, Rod Long, Pick City, ND; a sister-in-law, Kristine (Jacques) Gagne', Los Gatos, CA; and several nieces and nephews. Illa was preceded in death by her grandparents.
