Theda J. "Francie" Benton, 76, (Cheyenne Name: Hémanéóhtsé'e "Bringing In Water Woman"

of Seiling passed from this life on August 14, 2025 at OU Medical Center.  She was born on November 9, 1948 to Bruce Sr. and Delores (Little Coyote) Whiteman in Clinton, OK.  Charles and Olga Phillips raised her in California, and she later lived in Montana, and Oklahoma before making her home in Seiling where she finished school. . She was married to Herschel Benton Sr. in 1969, and to this union 5 children were born.  Later in 1990 she met the love of her life, her companion, Burl Buffalomeat, and they enjoyed the rest of her life together.  Theda enjoyed going to pow-wows and benefit dances, and spending time with her grandchildren, Tulane, Ira, Calvin, Harry, Izzy, BJ, Jackson, Kingston, DeAngelo, Diego, Adriana, Ariauna, and Aleilah.

She worked as a community health representative for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma.  She then worked for the Seiling Post Office and also at Seiling Public Schools where she worked her way up to being the Custodian Supervisor before her retirement in 2008.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter Joyce Benton; her son, Herschel Benton, Jr.; and four brothers, Wayne Whiteman, Daniel Whiteman, Andrew Whiteman, and Alan Pyle.

She is survived by her companion Burl Buffalomeat of the home, children Yvonne Benton of Seiling, Brandon Benton of Seiling, Harry Benton of Ponca City, Oliver White Crow of Clinton, Nina Woods of El Reno, and an "adopted" son Newley Hutchison; siblings Virginia Reyes of El Reno, Ginger Warrior of OKC, Bruce Whiteman, Jr. of Watonga, Frank Whiteman, Sr. of Lame Deer, MT, Billie Whiteman of Woodward, and Dewanda Little Coyote of Ashland, MT, aunt and uncle Rayford and Mary Ann Gray, 13 grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.