Linda L. Benedict

Linda Benedict-Krause, 89, passed away peacefully, with her children comforting her, on March 13, 2026, at St. Paul’s assisted living facility, South Bend, IN. She was preceded in death by her dear husband, John B. Krause, Jr., on July 21, 2019.

Linda was born on April 11, 1936, in Indianapolis, IN, to George E. and Georgetta (Moats) Morton, who preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death were two brothers, George E. Morton, Jr., Phoenix, AZ and Rhande Morton, Las Vegas, NV, and her stepson, Christopher Krause, South Bend.

She is survived by her loving children, Trudi (Warren) Engelbrecht, Saugatuck, MI, Vicki Benedict, South Bend, and Jere B. (Cheryl) Benedict, Indianapolis, another special daughter, Vickie (Walt) Dorn, South Bend, stepchildren, J. Michael (Betsey) Krause, Globe, AZ, “Lori” (David) Ohnesorge, South Bend, Lisa Blackford, Burke, VA, James (Betty) Krause, Frostproof, FL and Jonathan Krause, Pleasanton, CA, 13 step grandchildren and 10 step great grandchildren. Also surviving are her sister, Donna Badger-Nell, San Pedro, CA and a brother, John R. (Janet) Morton, Greenwood, IN.

Linda grew up in Indianapolis, IN and graduated from Manual HS. She married Jere L. Benedict at age 17 and had all three of their children by the time she turned 20. They began raising their family in Indianapolis, moving to South Bend in 1960. Linda’s children fondly recall the hours she spent making detailed Halloween costumes, designing holiday candy castles, staging their annual family Christmas card photo shoots, helping with school projects and plays and volunteering to lead her daughters’ Bluebird and Campfire groups. Her children and many of their friends remember with a smile, her venture of owning The Inner Circle, a small, “cool” gift shop on Portage Ave, in South Bend. Throughout her life, Linda encouraged her children, and people around her, to always strive to learn more and be open-minded in pursuing new life experiences. Early on, Linda worked as a bridal consultant at Robertson’s Dept. Store. Other job experiences included commercial ad sales for the Penny Saver and Burkhart Advertising and office filing systems sales for Tab Products.

Divorcing at age 40, after twenty-two years of marriage, her children grown, she began searching for help from a support group of others experiencing grief and loss after divorce. She soon found there were many others seeking the same, but very little help, out there. This prompted her to organize a support group, holding weekly meetings in her apartment and to finally further her education by going to college, while continuing to work full-time. The support group grew over the years, providing help for innumerable others and lasting friendships for Linda, including her dear friend, Linda Nevelle and a very special person, who would become her future husband. On September 3,1988 Linda married the love of her life and true soul mate, John B. Krause, Jr., in South Bend, IN.

Linda had always lent a helping hand to other people, and the experience of sharing and giving back to others provided strength, inner peace and happiness in her life and she decided to make that her future life’s work. She achieved that goal, receiving her master’s degree in social work (MSW) in 1992, at age 56 and soon began realizing her true calling in life, as an adult outpatient therapist for Madison Center, in South Bend, providing mental health support, guidance and assistance until her retirement in 2010.

Linda was so creative and artistic. She enjoyed crafting, painting with a wide range of mediums, was an avid reader and loved history. Following her mother’s lead, Linda became deeply involved in genealogy, continuing the research of her family’s history, then delving into the other branch of her children’s family, and the families of their spouses and friends, as well as her husband, John’s extended families. She was always eager to report someone’s family history she came upon while searching through census, military, land ownership, and other records from the past. Linda will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by her family and so many others, whose lives she touched in so many ways.

A celebration of life is planned for Saturday, April 25, 2026 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM at Palmer Funeral Home, Hickey Chapel, South Bend, IN 46635. 

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