Erna Lorraine Benignus Nitsch

Erna Lorraine Benignus Nitsch died on August 28th, 2024 in Asheville, NC, at the age of 90.

Erna was born in Spring, TX. The second child of the late Ernst and Elenora Benignus, she was also preceded in death by her elder sister, Maizie, and two younger brothers, Martin and Dean.

Erna was baptized, confirmed and educated until high school at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Spring. She attended Klein High School where she was crowned Queen of the Fall Festival along with a handsome classmate, Milton W. Nitsch, who was crowned King of the festival. Unbeknownst to either of them, he would become her future husband. Academically, Erna bested him by achieving Valedictorian while he had to contend with Salutatorian. They were married in 1953 and began their life of travel and adventure.

Moving a young family to Paris in 1964 and then London in 1966, Erna took on the challenge of raising their three girls away from family and friends, across the Atlantic in the days of communicating by handwritten letters and the occasional reel-to-reel tape recording. Lest people wouldn’t recognize her offspring as siblings, she sewed many matching outfits as the family traipsed around Europe.

Adopting the ‘when in Rome’ strategy, Erna embraced her love of English antiques and actively created possibly a trillion brass rubbings. Going to the Harrod’s Sale was a mandatory event – even while jet-lagged after a visit to the States. Queueing outside the door at an early hour in order to rush in to snag the pieces needed to complete four individual sets of bone China dinnerware.

After raising their family, Erna and Milton retired to their farm in New Ulm, Texas where they tended their cattle and Erna was able to focus on her love of gardening. At the end of a long day’s work, they would often enjoy a bowl of Blue Bell ice cream. After many years enjoying the rural life, they moved to Brenham, TX. Erna served her community through her church and by volunteering with Meals on Wheels.

Erna had a kind word and a smile for everyone she met. She loved games, especially Bridge and Mexican Train, and was generally the winner. She was well-known to be a fastidious housekeeper. As her sister-in-law, Lois, once said, “spiders would not dare spin a web in your house!”

Erna was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Milton W. Nitsch, who died on April 9th, 2015.

Erna is a much beloved Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother. She is survived by her three daughters, Karen (Harry) Brown, Kathy (Paul) McCracken and Kristi (Dan) Dula. She is also survived by her seven grandchildren, Jennifer, Sarah, Amanda, Ponya, Miriam, Nathan and Daniel. Her great-grandchildren are Ethan, Liam, Claire, Rowan, Nova (deceased), Kaelyn, Cora and Hannah.

A Memorial Service in Spring, TX, will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Erna’s memory are gratefully appreciated by Brooks-Howell Home, 266 Merrimon Ave, Asheville NC 28801, Attn: Sue Rawls, or CurePSP.org