Donald G. Benson
Posted: Saturday, July 12, 2008
PENDER, Neb. -- Donald G. Benson, 89, of Pender died Thursday, July 10, 2008, at Pender Community Hospital.
Services will be 10 a.m. Monday at United Church of Pender, with the Rev. Neal Allen officiating. Burial will be in Rosehill Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the American Legion Post 55. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service Monday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh Funeral Home in Pender. Condolences may be sent online to www.munderlohfuneralhome.com.
Donald Gilbert Benson was born June 13, 1919, in Pender, the son of R. Craig and Mae (Combs) Benson. He was raised in Pender and graduated from Pender High School in 1937. He attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, where he played football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers during his freshman year.
He married Mildred Cromer on Nov. 2, 1941. She passed away Dec. 25, 1967. He entered the U.S. Army and served as a first lieutenant in the European Theater during World War II. He returned to Pender after his service. He worked with his father and later owned and operated Benson Hardware and Implement. He later farmed in the Pender area.
On Nov. 27, 1974, he married Norma (Geuder) Elmquist. The couple split their time between Pender and Green Valley, Ariz.
He enjoyed golf and was club champion at the Beemer County Club in 1974.
He is survived by his wife, Norma of Pender; a son and his wife, Bill and Kim Benson of Norfolk, Neb.; a daughter, Jan Fremarek of Columbus, Neb.; 10 grandchildren, Mike (Jessica) Aerni of Golden, Colo., Michelle Aerni of St. Paul, Minn., Jeff (Jill) Fremarek of Columbus, Neb., Jen (David) Welte of Denver, Colo., Leigh (Melenda) Rexius of Yuma, Ariz., Tim (Melissa) Rexius of Sioux Falls, S.D., Craig Benson of Garden City, Kan., Scott Benson of Norfolk, Neb., Dustin Hamm of Omaha and Nicole Hamm of Sun Valley, Idaho; seven great-grandchildren; two stepsons, Dale (Grace) Elmquist of San Diego, Calif., and Bill Elmquist of Lincoln, Neb.; and three stepgrandchildren, Tracy Elmquist of West Point, Neb., and Valerie Recker and Leah Elmquist, both of Lincoln.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Millie; daughters, Julie Aerni and Barb Hamm; stepdaughters, Barb Miller and Pam Anderson; and a son-in-law, Steven Fremarek.
Services will be 10 a.m. Monday at United Church of Pender, with the Rev. Neal Allen officiating. Burial will be in Rosehill Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the American Legion Post 55. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service Monday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh Funeral Home in Pender. Condolences may be sent online to www.munderlohfuneralhome.com.
Donald Gilbert Benson was born June 13, 1919, in Pender, the son of R. Craig and Mae (Combs) Benson. He was raised in Pender and graduated from Pender High School in 1937. He attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, where he played football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers during his freshman year.
He married Mildred Cromer on Nov. 2, 1941. She passed away Dec. 25, 1967. He entered the U.S. Army and served as a first lieutenant in the European Theater during World War II. He returned to Pender after his service. He worked with his father and later owned and operated Benson Hardware and Implement. He later farmed in the Pender area.
On Nov. 27, 1974, he married Norma (Geuder) Elmquist. The couple split their time between Pender and Green Valley, Ariz.
He enjoyed golf and was club champion at the Beemer County Club in 1974.
He is survived by his wife, Norma of Pender; a son and his wife, Bill and Kim Benson of Norfolk, Neb.; a daughter, Jan Fremarek of Columbus, Neb.; 10 grandchildren, Mike (Jessica) Aerni of Golden, Colo., Michelle Aerni of St. Paul, Minn., Jeff (Jill) Fremarek of Columbus, Neb., Jen (David) Welte of Denver, Colo., Leigh (Melenda) Rexius of Yuma, Ariz., Tim (Melissa) Rexius of Sioux Falls, S.D., Craig Benson of Garden City, Kan., Scott Benson of Norfolk, Neb., Dustin Hamm of Omaha and Nicole Hamm of Sun Valley, Idaho; seven great-grandchildren; two stepsons, Dale (Grace) Elmquist of San Diego, Calif., and Bill Elmquist of Lincoln, Neb.; and three stepgrandchildren, Tracy Elmquist of West Point, Neb., and Valerie Recker and Leah Elmquist, both of Lincoln.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Millie; daughters, Julie Aerni and Barb Hamm; stepdaughters, Barb Miller and Pam Anderson; and a son-in-law, Steven Fremarek.
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