Virginia Arlene (Bengtson) Lilly

MENTOR - Virginia Arlene Lilly passed away on March 21, 2021 at her home surrounded with love by her family. She was born in Smolan, Kan., on September 14, 1924. Her parents were Gustaf and Augusta (Ohman) Bengtson. She was confirmed into the Salemsborg Lutheran Church, and after her marriage transferred church membership to the Mentor United Methodist Church.

She married Kendall Lilly on August 25, 1946. They made their home in Mentor, Kan., where they lived the rest of their lives. To this union were born three children: Richard of Overland Park, Kan., Janet Lilly of Salina, Kan., and Roger of Austin, Texas.

Virginia was a homemaker and loved to be in her kitchen cooking for the family. She really enjoyed baking and was famous in the Lilly family for her chocolate brownies. She was always asked to make them for every family gathering.

Over the years she was a faithful volunteer worker at White Cross Nursing Home, playing her autoharp and singing for the residents. She did craft projects with them and just loved visiting with all of them. When that nursing home closed, she started visiting various nursing homes in Salina, bringing them homemade treats and having a “social hour” with the residents and staff. When physically able she also loved to work in her yard with all of her beautiful flowers.

For much of her adult life she was a Sunday School teacher, an active member of the United Methodist Women and sang in the church choir. Her church and church family meant everything to her. Virginia loved her children dearly but her greatest joy was becoming a Grandmother and Great Grandmother. She doted on all of them as often as she could.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Axel and Raymond Bengtson; infant brother, Eric; and sisters, Irene McCormick, Evelyn Reed, Ruby Fulton and Grace Johnson.

She is survived by a brother, Lawrence, of Wichita, Kan.; her children, Richard (Mary Jane), Janet Lilly, and Roger (Sharmyn). She is also survived by her grandchildren, Ryan Carlin (Danielle) of Timberlake, N.C., Kendra Carlin of Smolan, Kan., Sara Falter (Brian) of Olathe, Kan., Jason Lilly (Kelli) of Olathe, Kan., Aaron Lilly of (Christine) Lenexa, Kan.; and great grandchildren, Avery and Beckett Lilly of Olathe, Harper and Olivia Lilly of Lenexa.

Memorials are suggested to the Mentor United Methodist Church, 616 E. Mentor Road, Mentor, KS. 67416  The family will have a private burial at a later date.

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