Leon & Reba Benschoter Endowed Scholarship Fund

Established in recognition of the tremendous benefit the children of Benny & Reba received through their opportunity to participate in the University's tuition remission program.

Awarded to student based on financial need in College of Arts & Sciences and Health Science programs on alternating basis.

Glenn & Lorraine Patterson Scholarship

Established in recognition of the gift of higher education made available to Reba as a young girl from a small Iowa farm community.  Her parents' support along with the generosity of the Sisters of St. Francis opened doors that would not normally have been open to her.

Awarded annually to student from a rural Iowa community based on financial need.

Dean Reba Benschoter Scholarship Fund

Established to support students from small communities pursuing studies in the Allied Health Professions.  Reba served as the first Associate Dean of the School of Allied Health Professions at UNMC.  Her appointment to this role was based on her tireless work brining awareness of the need for and the technology available to deliver health  education and services to the communities in rural Nebraska through the Rural Health Education Network (RHEN). 

Awarded to student based on financial need from rural communities throughout the state of Nebraska.

Benschoter Tuition Assistance Fund

Established in gratitude for the Catholic school education that Benny and Reba were able to provide to their own children and with a desire to allow more families to do so in spite of financial situation.

Awarded to student(s) annually based on financial need.

Capital Campaign

Benny and Reba also served as the honorary chairs of this ambitious effort to fund critical projects for the parish including significant repairs to the church and rectory buildings.  The campaign raised over $1.8 million and exceeded the overall campaign goal.

Parish Endowment 

Monthly Operation 

In their final wishes, Benny & Reba identified several organizations to receive funds from their estates.

Their children were honored to direct additional funds from Benny & Reba's estates to organizations across the country that support programs and communities that are important to our individual families. We share the generous gifts our parents gave us with the world in their honor and memory. 

Adventures in Social Development (Des Moines, IA)

America's Junior Miss Scholarship Foundation Inc.

Distinguished Young Women Scholarship Fund

Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) (York, PA)

AFDO Scholarship Endowment Fund 

Central Iowa Shelter & Services (Des Moines, IA)

CHI Health Foundation (Omaha, NE)

Breast Health Center - Lakeside Medical Center

Healing Garden - Midlands Hospital

Danbury Catholic School-St. Mary's Parish (Danbury, IA)

DSM Mutual Aid - Tran Mutual Aid (Des Moines, IA)

Foundation Communities Inc.

Friends of KIOS Public Radio (Omaha, NE)

Holt International Childrens Services (Eugene, OR)

Adoption support for children with special needs

Hoyt Sherman Place Foundation (Des Moines, IA)

Lawn Enhancement Project

Iowa State University Foundation (Ames, IA)

Christian Petersen Programs & Projects

Marbridge Foundation Inc. (Austin, TX)

Mind and Spirit Counseling Center (Des Moines, IA)

Nebraska Public Media Foundation Inc. (Lincoln, NE)

Omaha Parks Foundation (Omaha, NE)

Replacement of gazebo in Hanscom Park - dedicated September 5th, 2025

Omaha Public Library Foundation (Omaha, NE)

Support & Maintenance of Willa Cather Branch

Robin Hill Community Support Foundation (Omaha, NE)

Rosedale Foundation Inc. (Austin, TX)

Siouxland Community Soup Kitchen Inc. (Sioux City, IA)

In honor of Cecilia Marx Patterson, Reba's sister-in-law.

St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church and School (Omaha, NE)

St. Stephen the Martyr statue purchase and installation

Station of the Cross lighting installation

Texas Parent-To-Parent (Austin, TX)

University of Nebraska Foundation (Omaha, NE)

KVNO Future Fund

Victory Boxing Club (Omaha, NE)

Young Women's Resource Center (Des Moines, IA)

Zion Lutheran Church (Des Moines, IA)

AARP Nebraska

Computer literacy programs

Shredding event

Volunteer (aka whatever Reba told him to do) 

City of Omaha Cable TV Consortium Advisory Board

Various board positions

Elkhorn Valley Antique Power Association

Various board positions

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish

Parish office manager

Church and school building and grounds projects

Stephen Center

Coordinated annual collection of underwear and winter wear each Christmas among friends and family

Volunteer