Helen Maxine Benshoof

Helen Maxine (Danderson) Benshoof, a beacon of love and humor, graced this world with her presence for 83 remarkable years. She was born on July 11, 1941, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Albert and Inez (Stanford) Danderson. She passed away from this life on January 13, 2025, in Tulsa, surrounded by her family, leaving behind a legacy of love. Because of all the things she did throughout her life, love and family were the most important to her.
Helen was the third child of 11 brothers and sisters. She grew up and lived all over eastern Oklahoma. Her early years were spent with family, attending school in Tulsa, and working at places like Cottons Restaurant on Admiral as a waitress and carhop. Some of you may have seen her or heard she delivered orders on roller skates back then. Working at Cottons was a rite of passage for many Danderson family members.
She later worked for another "family business" in Pryor. It was a family business because so many of her family worked there too. This company had many names; some may remember it as Ralston Purina, Protein Technologies International, Dupont, or Solae. Helen's first job was in maintenance at Ralston Purina. She later chose to go back to school to attain a better job and provide for her family. With her completed education, she earned a position as a lab technician. She is noted for helping to create new processes to run testing more efficiently, saving the company money. This as something she was proud of and in her seventies, she retired from Solae.
Helen made her family and raised her children in Locust Grove, Oklahoma. Her greatest love in life was her grandchildren – they were the main thought of every day. She would invite her grandkids over for sleepovers and play video games all weekend, making her a kid at heart.
Helen had many wonderful traits. She was kind, caring, and always there to help. She was often a shoulder to cry on for those in need. She loved many things including being a devoted Christian. She loved to watch Arnold Murray.
She was also a member of the Red Hat Society. She loved spending time with her sisters and family. You could often find her at the table playing games, such as cutthroat rummy, bingo, bunko, and pitch. Her sisters will tell you she was very, very competitive.
She loved the outdoors and swimming in the creek. She taught many of her siblings, family, and each of her grandchildren how to drive – because she was the only one who had the nerve to. And you would find her often playing childlike games with them – like dress up and make believe.
Helen loved to travel. One of her most proud visits was to the Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota. She said it was one of her best trips. She loved her Cherokee heritage and shared that passion with her son, Herby. Another was her sister's cruise and a trip to Hawaii with her good friend, Joann. In her later years, she enjoyed going to the senior citizen center to meet her friends for lunch.
She spent her last days with her family, celebrating Christmas. She said that was the best day of her life, and she thanked the family repeatedly for that time they spent together.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her children Audrey, Timothy, Daniel, and Herby Benshoof, her grandchild Blaine Benshoof, and her siblings Arnold Danderson, Mary Sales, Bobby Danderson, Louise Hamil, Billy Danderson, Joyce Nelson, and Judy Danderson.
She is survived by her sisters, Betty and Ron Curtis of Coweta, Ruby Danderson of Pryor, and Terri Smith of Adair.
She is also survived by her children Renee Sheehan of Tulsa and Angela and Mike Scribner of Pryor, her grandchildren Blake Stevens in Stillwater, Tyler Benshoof of Verdigris, Zach Stevens and Cindy Tharp of Tulsa, Bryce Benshoof of Chouteau, Patrick Cody Garrett of Tulsa, and Mason Garrett of Pryor, and great-grandchildren Abbey Benshoof and Bentley Benshoof and a host of nieces and nephews, family and friends.
The Pallbearers are Tyler Benshoof, Patrick Cody Garrett, Mason Garrett, Mike Scribner, Dennis Roberts, and Jade Williams.
The viewing will be on Friday, January 17 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Stephens-Key Funeral Home in Pryor, Oklahoma. Lunch will be held a Saint Mark Catholic Church in Pryor at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 18, with services provided by Stephens-Key Funeral Home at 1 p.m.
Graveside services to follow at Hogan Cemetery in Locust Grove, Oklahoma.
Online condolences may be made at www.stephens-key.com or on the funeral home Facebook page.
Arrangements are in care of Stephens-Key Funeral and Cremation Care of Pryor.