A benefit for the children of the late Tim Wallace will be held in the Gregarek Building at the Cass County Fairgrounds on Nov. 8.

The benefit, which runs from 4 to 8 p.m., is being put on by the Hartford Tractor Club.

Wallace, who died after a brief illness on Oct. 4, was a member of the  club. He was also a member of the Cass County Fair Board and worked at the Cass County Road Commission.

Wallace also played Santa Claus each year at the Tractor Supply Company in Niles.

The benefit will feature a chili dinner with cornbread, crackers and a beverage provided for a donation.

There will also be a silent auction, which ends at 8 p.m., as well as a live auction beginning at 6:30. There will be a bake sale and a 50/50 drawing as well as a live DJ.

Daughter Huntter and son Hesston lost their mother Carrie in November of 2006. Now with the loss of their father, members of the club want to help raise money for the children.

Hesston, who is a junior at Ross Beatty Jr./Sr. High School is working the family farm and trying to make sure that the farm stays in the family according to Pam Maxwell, who is the secretary for the tractor club.

“Tim was sick for about five weeks, but doctors could not find a reason for the illness,” Maxwell said. “He came home on a Tuesday from the hospital and died on Saturday. They lived on a small farm with about 50 head of cattle. Hesston continues to feed the animals and work the farm. He is hoping to be able to keep it.

“He is a hard-working, nice young man who not only goes to school, but works for a farmer and does maintenance at the Cass County Fairgrounds.”

Maxwell said that Tim and Hesston loved to build toy farms and take them to toy shows.

“After Carrie died, Tim bolted a car seat to the tractor so he could have the kids with him as he worked,” she said. “What else could he do?”

Maxwell said that Huntter and Hesston are getting a lot of support from family, but more needs to be done. That is why the club decided to put on the benefit.

Anyone who would like to donate and cannot make it to the benefit may send a check made out to Hartford Tractor Club. In the memo area of the check it must say Wallace Benefit. Checks may be mailed to Maxwell at 68070 M-62, Edwardsburg 49112.

The money raised will be split between two accounts which have been set up for Huntter and Hesston.