Florence F. Bengry

Florence F. Bengry, age 97 of Centerville, OH, formerly of Iron River, MI, passed away on November 6, 2025 at the Fairmont Senior Living of Washington Township.

She was born on September 6, 1928 in Iron River, MI, the daughter of the late Marino and Maria (Marcucci) Pieragostini. She attended the Iron River Schools and graduated with the Class of 1945.

Florence married Ellsworth Bengry on June 18, 1949 in Iron River. The couple lived in Iron River, White Pine, MI, and Wellston, OH before returning to Caspian, MI in 1992 after his retirement. They celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary in 2002. Ellsworth preceded her in death on August 30, 2002.

She held many jobs throughout the years as a housewife, postal associate, dental assistant, telephone operator, factory employee, and ski resort employee. She was a member of the Iron River Assembly of God Church; she was an avid golfer & a member of the Iron River Country Club.

Most of all, Florence loved being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She married her one true love, Ellsworth Bengry and together they had 7 children. She loved being a wife and mother. She devoted her life to her six daughters and one son. She will always be remembered for creating a home filled with love, fun, singing and joy. She loved helping her children with their homework, laughing with them when they would tell her funny stories and would hug them when life seemed a little too difficult to handle. One of her rare qualities was she not only was a devoted love filled Mother, but she was also your best friend whose joyous heart could laugh at a humorous story to the point of tears. She had an unwavering faith and love for God which was always so evident with how she interacted with you and it didn’t matter if she knew you or had never met you before, her warm, kind, caring and tender ways always made you feel so loved and so special. She loved reading her bible and listening to ministers on TV and on the radio. She loved teaching children about the love of Jesus. She taught Sunday School for over 40 years. When she moved to Ohio, after the death of her husband, she hosted a bible study group in her home every Tuesday night. She was an inspiration to the group, providing her insight and constantly revealing her love for the Lord. She loved the Detroit Lions. Her famous saying was, “I’m not going to die until the Lions win a Super Bowl.” Each year she would watch every game, put on her Lion gear and hope for them to win one for her. Because she knows Jesus, we know she is living and still watching for that Super Bowl win! She was also very patriotic and loved listening and watching political events. She would welcome a good debate on any subject affecting our country’s liberties. She often quoted her favorite bible verse which was found in 2 Corinthians 5:8: “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” She would encourage her family with these verses too: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14: “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.”

Florence is survived by her daughters, Marlane Bengry of Bellbrook, OH, Shelly (Rich) Kate of Centerville, OH, Tracee (Rich) Kyllonen of De Pere, WI, Christine (Curt) Carlson of Centerville, OH, and Carrie (Pat) Lancaster of Kettering, OH; son, Brian (Sara) Bengry of Lynchburg, VA; 19 grandchildren; 44 great grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild; nieces, nephews and extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her brother, Cal Pieragostini; sisters, Mema Bray, Dena Tarsi, Josephine Lesandrini, Julia Augugliaro; her daughter, Diane (Bengry) Berendsen; her grandson, Craig Ponozzo and great-granddaughter, Amelia Colston, and her granddaughter,

Erin Bengry.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 16, 2025, from 2:00-3:00 p.m. at the U.P. River Church in Iron River, Michigan.

Celebration of Life Service will follow with Pastor Jim Pellizzer to officiate.