Freda Sue (Dial) Benton

Freda Sue (Dial) Benton, 84, of Midland, TX, passed away on Sunday, 31 August 2025.  Burial will be a private family ceremony to be held at Moss Hill Cemetery in Bearden, AR at a yet to be determined date.

Freda was born the second child of Fred Allen and Susie Bell Dial on 6 September 1940 in Leola, AR.   Her family moved to Bearden, AR in the early 1950’s where she attended Bearden High School where she was a cheerleader, played basketball, and was on the homecoming royalty court, graduating in 1958 as the valedictorian of her class.  After high school she attend Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, AR, majoring in Elementary Education.  Her education at Henderson was interrupted when she agreed to marry her high school sweetheart in June of 1960.  After marriage, the birth of their two sons, and while her husband was serving in Vietnam, she returned to Henderson, resuming her education and earning a Bachelor of Education Degree in 1965.

For the next few years she devoted her life to being a homemaker, great mother, raising two sons, and being a terrific military officer’s wife.  If you have had any of those experiences personally you will know how difficult each of them can be.  As the boys were approaching college age, she began her 20 year teaching career to help pay for degrees for both boys from Texas Tech University, while teaching at both Robert E. Lee and Sheridan Road Elementary Schools in Lawton, OK under the supervision of her favorite principal and lifelong friend Ken Schraner. The day following her retirement in December 1999 she moved to Midland, TX to be near her only grandchildren. Here she lived out the remainder of her life where she proved to be an equally wonderful grandmother to her two grandchildren and great-grandmother to her five great grandchildren.  She lived for the 3Fs – family, faith, and friends (in that order).  They were the only things in life that she truly treasured and she valued each beyond measure.  There is a saying in our family that if you make friends with Freda you will always be a friend because she never lets good friends go.

Freda is survived by her husband of 65 years Frank Benton; sons Greg and wife Mary Anne Benton of Midland and Todd and wife Tish Benton of Sanger, CA; granddaughter Katie and husband Drew Winston of Dallas, TX; grandson JD and wife Shannon Benton of Midland, TX;  great granddaughters Ella Winston, Genevieve and Michelle Benton; great grandsons Graham Winston and Hugh Benton; several nephews and nieces from both sides of her family; many old friends from both the military and her teaching career; and many wonderful new friends made after moving to Midland.   She especially liked the many ladies of PEO Chapter DD, which she avidly supported, the many friends of Greg and Mary Anne that with open arms welcomed our family to Midland, and the most recent addition to our extended family of Keith, Charlotte, and Tiara Doucet our dearest next-door neighbors.

Freda is preceded in death by her parents Fred and Susie Dial and brother Keith Dial.

The family would like to express their eternal gratitude for the tender and loving care Freda received from Dr. Madanat of UTSW oncology Dallas, TX and Dr.

(Manny) Mangat of Texas Oncology Midland, TX; with special thanks to the nursing staff of 6^th floor MMH including Maggie, Titi, Jessica, Jenna, Christa, Isabell and student nurse Calvin; the staff of Texas Oncology including: Toni, Lisa, Laurie, Rachel, and the entire oncology infusion nursing staff (Freda finally got to ring the cancer-free bell).

In lieu of flowers, Freda would certainly love for you to make a memorial donation to either of her two favorite charities: the Midland College PEO Memorial Scholarship Fund, which Freda helped establish (send checks to: MC Foundation 3600 N. Garfield Midland, TX 79705 – with memo PEO Scholarship) or the Wounded Warriors Project.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.

To plant a tree in memory of Freda Sue (Dial) Benton, please visit our Tribute Store.