Danette Benthall

Born on March 3, 1949, Danette Benthall went home to be with the Lord on December 11, 2024. An alumna of North High School, Danette graduated in 1967 (the year North won the State High School Basketball Championship). During her years at North, she studied with the late great Jerry Hoover, singing in the concert choir and performing in many musicals. Later, at Indiana University, she studied with Martha Lipton and sang with the storied Singing Hoosiers. Graduating from Indiana University in 1971 with a B.A. in history, Danette served as a teacher of the blind before accepting a position at Mt. Vernon Junior High School teaching social studies. There she would remain for forty years.

Danette is remembered for going the extra mile with her students, helping them after school and encouraging them to do their best, whether on the volleyball court or in the classroom. Teaching was her calling. Many of her students still recall her lavish “Egypt Chapter” when she would dress as Queen Nefertiti and act out all things Egyptian with her friend and fellow teacher, Susan Benton. Early in her career, Danette received her master’s degree from the University of Evansville and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.

A devoted member of Oak Hill Presbyterian (later Evangelical Free) Church, Danette served as director of the church choirs for children and adults, also teaching Sunday School. Along with her former and now deceased husband, she raised her two children, Seth and Sloane. They both played football as children at various intervals much to Danette’s delight, and she introduced her boys to the delights of Kentucky Lake during the summers, with swimming, skiing and Sea-Dooing. Danette’s parents built a small cabin in a remote wooded area there, which would later become Land Between the Lakes and hold a special place in Danette’s heart for life. A consummate seamstress, Danette did needlepoint fit for display, fashioned her own clothes, and made her sister’s wedding dress. After retirement, she remained in the Evansville area, reveling in her granddaughters as “Granny Nanny.” She lived life in the grand manner, but like most mothers raising her children may have been her favorite period. She was beloved and respected by many, and she loved and respected them back. She was a magnificent woman.

Danette is survived by her son, Seth (Scarlett) Zirkle, of Newburgh; granddaughters Amalia, Agatha, and Agnes; sister, Deedra Benthall of Danville, Kentucky; brother, Dennis (Leah) Benthall, of Mt. Vernon; nieces Julie Rohrer (Justin, and son, Michael), of Evansville, Laine Oktober Benthall of Waianae, Hawaii, and Luque Benthall (children, Eli and Gabriel) of Danville; and nephews Eli Wolfe Benthall (Ashley, and children, Isabella, Journie, and Jocelyn) of Mt. Vernon, and Blake Dakota Benthall (Alison, and children, Emery and Dakota) of Richmond Hill, Georgia. She also leaves many cousins among them: Marilyn Boyer, Beth McFadin Higgins, Sandy Kincheloe, Theresa McFadin, Debbie Minton, Shirley N. Riddle, Doris Laws, Mac McFadin, Kathy Tobias, Tommy Foster, Tommy Benthall, Deena Caruso, Butch Kerr, Reatha Clark, Barbara Smith, Mary Phillips, Donnie Blazer, Devon Blazer, Aleta Potts, Steve Gilbert, and Mary Gilbert. Danette is preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Elvera Benthall, and her beloved son, Sloane.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Sunday, December 15, 2024, at Alexander Funeral Home North Chapel, 4200 Stringtown Road, next to her family home. Visitation will continue from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 16, 2024, at the funeral home. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m. Monday, at the funeral home, with Pastor Cliff Herring officiating. Burial will follow at Welborn Cemetery in Posey County.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her memory to the Ivy Tech Foundation for the Sloane B. Zirkle Scholarship at 3501 N. First Ave, Evansville, IN 47710 or online at giving.ivytech.edu.

Condolences may be made online at www.AlexanderNorthChapel.com.