Nancy Leone Benton

Nancy Leone Bolender, born December 15, 1934, was welcomed home by her Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 25th, 2026.

Nancy lived a life of unwavering faith, steady love, and humble service. Rooted deeply in her devotion to her Savior and her family, she gave herself fully to caring for others.

Born to Harvey and Leona Bolender in Olympia, WA, Nancy was raised on a busy dairy farm as the eldest of 9 children. She attended Prairie Bible Institute in Alberta, Canada, as well as Yelm High School. At the age of 19, she met a handsome young sailor named Edwin Benton. She and Edwin wed in 1954 and moved to Puyallup, where they raised their 5 children, (Robert, Jeanne, Angela, Laurie, and Valerie). Being a mother and home maker seemed to come naturally to her. She loved raising a large vegetable garden, cooking hearty farm style meals for her family, sewing clothes, and baking delicious cinnamon rolls and homemade bread.

Before having children, Nancy had a career as an LPN (with her first job at the same hospital and OB unit where her daughter, Valerie, would later work). She returned to nursing when her children were grown. She worked for many years in the rehab department at Good Samaritan Hospital, where her calm and pleasant demeanor, made her a popular and valued staff member. On the weekends, she also worked alongside Edwin in their floral business, Benton's Twin Cedars Florist. There she helped create beautifully decorated weddings for many fortunate couples around the Puyallup area.

Nancy enjoyed reading, leading bible studies, traveling, experimenting with recipes, drawing house plans, hosting tea parties for grandchildren, and drawing cute farm scenes on envelopes for her family. Her greatest loves, God and family, were inseparable. We all benefited from her daily prayers for us – often in the still hours of the night when sleep came slowly.

Nancy will be remembered as the steady heart of our family, whose love, humor, common sense, wisdom, encouragement, and prayers shaped who we are today.

She is preceded in death by her parents Leona and Harvey, by Edwin her husband of 65 years, and by her brother Ben. She is survived by her 5 children, 15 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, her remaining siblings Gay Iverson, Jennie Bolender Benton, Stephen Bolender, Beth Hayes, Jon Bolender, Rebecca Christie and Mark Bolender as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

A celebration of life service will be scheduled in March – details to follow.