Benton Community School District

The Bobcat nation honors and remembers our coach, teacher and friend, Mr. Derek Anderson tonight. The lights on our baseball field remain on tonight for Coach Anderson!

Today the Bobcat nation will say goodbye to Mr. Derek Anderson, our High School social studies teacher who touched the lives of so many students, teachers, parents, and community members. This is a special day to honor and celebrate his life. Derek was one of our best.....a man of integrity, professionalism, and thoughtfulness. We thank Derek for his influence on our lives, for his individualized care and concern for his students, for showing us how to inspire and support others, and just for being him. RIP Mr. Anderson Link to Memorial Video of Derek Anderson: https://tinyurl.com/mpt3ur2n

Boys Basketball 1/25/22 #BeABobcat #APlaceToBelong

Halftime performance by our junior dancers!

Benton Basketball - Go Bobcats!

Dear Parents, Students, Staff & Community Members, Benton Community and Central Lutheran Schools are canceled for tomorrow, Wednesday, January 26th. Extreme low temperatures are expected tomorrow morning and for the safety of our students, staff, and buses, school will be canceled. It is not feasible to move school for our students to the afternoon and if you recall, our school calendar indicates an early dismissal for tomorrow. However, we will not run a late start or early dismissal. School is canceled. During the afternoon, we will be remembering and honoring one of our teachers who unexpectedly passed away last week. Mr. Derek Anderson touched the lives of many students, staff, and community members. Mr. Anderson's obituary is posted on our website at: www.benton.k12.ia.us Students - please expect to hear from your coaches and sponsors about practices on Wednesday. Thank you. Dr. Pamela Ewell, Superintendent & the Benton Community School District Administration

Benton Girls Basketball #BeABobcat #APlaceToBelong

Benton Community & Central Lutheran will be on a 2-hour delay, tomorrow, Tuesday, January 25. No morning activities or weight room. Preschool - late start schedule. Thank you. Benton Community Administration

Great weekend for Benton Girls Basketball! Girls basketball picked up another win Friday January 21st against Williamsburg. Final score Benton 48 Williamsburg 35. Saturday January 22nd Girls won against Union. Final Benton 64 Union 31 Great Job! #BeABobcat #APlaceToBelong

As per the wishes of the Anderson family, memorials may be directed to the Benton Community High School Baseball Program in memory of Derek. Memorials can be sent to: Benton Community School District Central Office 304 1st Street Van Horne, IA 52346 Questions? Please call Central Office and speak with Melody Spence, Dr. Pam Ewell, or Dr. James Bieschke (319) 228-8701 Thank you. Obituary for Derek Dean Anderson - https://www.murdochfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Derek-Anderson-2/#!/Obituary Derek Dean Anderson, age 43, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, went home to be with the Lord Jesus in heaven on January 20, 2022. While we deeply mourn the unexpected loss of such a beloved grandson, son, brother, uncle, and friend; we also rejoice in the absolute assurance of a future blessed reunion, which is promised to all who, like Derek, have trusted in the sacrifice of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life (John 3:16; 6:35-40; 14:1-6; Ephesians 2:8-9). A visitation will be held from 3 – 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids. A funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at Veritas Church, 509 3rd Street SE, Cedar Rapids, with a visitation one hour prior. Burial will follow at Linwood Cemetery in Cedar Rapids. Derek was born to Larry Dean and Charlotte Valdena “Dena” (Boone) Anderson on January 17, 1979, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Derek was a 1997 graduate of Bellefontaine High School in Bellefontaine, Ohio, where he excelled academically (National Honor Society) and athletically (1997 Male Athlete of the Year). Derek played collegiate baseball for Northern Kentucky University (NKU) where he achieved academic all-conference honors for three years. He graduated from NKU in 2001 with a degree in secondary education. Derek played baseball post-collegiately for the Springfield Giants (Ohio) who won the National Amateur Baseball Federation Major Division World Series in 2002. Derek’s career took him from Ohio to Virginia and finally back to Iowa where he taught and coached baseball for 15 years at Benton Community High School in Van Horne. Even though Derek never married, his life was full of love for the Lord and others. Derek attended Veritas Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His house was full of bible study notes and he enjoyed studying with friends. Derek enjoyed Iowa Hawkeye sports, bowling, ice fishing, and a good cinnamon roll. Derek’s family and friends meant the world to him. His nieces and nephews never tired of using Derek as a jungle gym and he never tired of having them “hang” around. He devoted much time and love to his students and baseball players. Derek will truly be remembered for his kind spirit and care for others, which is evidenced by the incredible outpouring of love from people across the country. Survivors include his father, Larry Anderson of Cedar Rapids; mother, Valdena “Dena” Anderson of Cedar Rapids; paternal grandmother, Helen Anderson of Cedar Rapids; brothers, Jay (Kristie) Anderson of Monroe, Michigan, and Chris (Christina) Anderson of Blairstown, Iowa; nieces, Noel, Anna, and Selah; and nephews, Deacon, Graham, Duncan, and Oliver. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Paul Anderson; and maternal grandparents, Oscar and Jewel Boone. Memorials may be directed to the Benton Community High School Baseball Program in memory of Derek.

Funeral arrangements and visitation for Derek Anderson: https://www.murdochfuneralhome.com/m/obituaries/Derek-Anderson-2/Memories

Dear Bobcat Families, It's with a heavy heart that we share with the Bobcat community that Derek Anderson, a teacher at our High School, and a valued member of our school community, has unexpectedly passed away. Mr. Anderson taught High School Government, Global History, Modern American History, and other social studies classes for Benton Community. He was a beloved teacher and coach and will be missed greatly. Derek was a member of the Benton community for 15 years and touched the lives of many students, parents, and staff as a teacher and baseball coach. His reach went well beyond his classroom and the ball field, and we are saddened that he's no longer with us. We have Derek's family's permission to share this information with our school community and will share additional details when arrangements have been made. We also will have trained counselors available Friday and the days following to speak with students and staff who would like to visit with them. Support is also available 24/7 on the Your Life Iowa Crisis Line 855-581-8111 or text 855-895-8398 We will let you know the arrangements as we learn more. Our deepest condolences to the Anderson family. Dr. Pamela Ewell Superintendent & the Benton Community School District Administration Dr. James Bieschke Mr. Rob Arnold Mr. Shawn Pfiffner Mr. Ryan Junge Mr. Phillip Eastman Mr. Jason West Ms. Anna Upah

Benton Community and Central Lutheran will be on a 2-hour delay, tomorrow morning, Friday, January 21. No morning Activities or weight room. Thank you.

Chilli day at the High School. Deputy Upah and Mr. Carlson served with us today!

Conference Play for Benton Basketball Courtesy of Jim Magdefrau Benton Community girls’ basketball Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, at Center Point Benton 31, Center Point-Urbana 38 BC 16 9 12 4 - 41 CPU 10 10 10 8 - 38 Benton Community’s Jenna Twedt had 15 points. Zoey Junge had seven rebounds. Emma Townsley had three assists. Grace Embretson had three steals. Benton (11-3) was 15 of 29 for field goals, 6 of 12 for three-pointers, and 5 of 8 for free throws. The team had 24 rebounds, eight assists, three steals, one block, 16 turnovers and 10 fouls. CPU (11-2) was 14 of 46 from the field, 2 of 15 for three-pointers, and 8 of 9 for free throws. They had 22 rebounds, seven assists, nine steals, two blocks, 11 turnovers and 12 fouls. Ryley Gobble had 23 for CPU. Benton travels to Williamsburg (9-5) on Friday, and then goes to Union (3-9) in La Porte City at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. Benton Community boys’ basketball Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, at Van Horne Benton 55, Center Point-Urbana 50 CPU 16 8 9 17 - 50 BC 16 22 11 6 - 55 Photo by Andrea Townsley.

Congrats on signing with Kirkwood Community College! #BeABobcat #APlaceToBelong

Benton Community & Central Lutheran will be on a 2-hour delay, tomorrow, Thursday, January 20. No morning activities. Preschool - late start schedule. Thank you. Benton Community Administration Benton Community & Central Lutheran tendrá un retraso de 2 horas, mañana jueves 20 de enero. Sin actividades matutinas. Preescolar: horario de inicio tardío. Gracias. Administración de la comunidad de Benton

Keystone Elementary - We had the Benton County Conservation Naturalists come yesterday! In 3rd grade we learned about the water cycle while also using a key.

and more!

Go Bobcats!