Ronald Butch' Benson

Ronald “Butch” Benson, 69 of Pierpont died on Monday, October 15, 2012 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 A.M. Friday, October 19, 2012 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Bristol. Burial will be at Bristol Cemetery. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Thursday 2-4 P.M. then continuing at the church in Bristol 6-8 P.M.with a 7 P.M. Scriptural Prayer service. Ronald Ray “Butch” Benson was born on Thursday, February 11, 1943 to Lawrence and Bertine (Gulbraa) Benson in Wallace, South Dakota. He was baptized and confirmed at Calvary Lutheran Church in Wallace. He attended school in Wallace and graduated from Wallace high school in 1961. Using the trade his father taught him, he worked as a carpenter. He was united in marriage to Dorothy Fiksdal on April 4, 1964 at St Joseph Catholic Church in Lily. They lived in the Watertown and Wallace area briefly before moving to rural Bristol. He worked for Hansmeier and Son for almost 40 years before retiring in 2010. He loved the farm, especially working with cattle and swathing grain. After retirement, the couple moved to Pierpont, SD. With help from family and friends, he took great pride in the hard work he put into remodeling their new home. He was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Bristol. Butch enjoyed coffee with his friends and was known for practical jokes. He enjoyed gardening, playing pinochle and watching the Vikings and Twins. He loved to fish and looked forward each year to the family gathering on Lake Minnewasta. His true passion was his children and grandchildren. He loved spending time with them and their friends, who became an extension of his family. He lived each days doing the things he enjoyed and in constant gratitude for his many blessings. Butch passed away on Monday, October 15, 2012 at Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 69 years, 8 months and 4 days. Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Dorothy of Pierpont; four sons, Rodney (Dawn) Benson of Tracy, MN, Brian (Tannie) Benson of Geneva, IL, John (Zoe Spiering) Benson of Webster Matt (Melissa) Benson of Farmington, MN; four daughters, Sue (Troy) Haaland of Aberdeen, SD, Kathy (Jerry) Bjerke of Groton, SD, Chris (fiancée, Jeff Garr) Benson of Sioux Falls, SD Carrie Benson of Brookings; three brothers, Donald (Ilah) Benson of Anoka, MN, Gerald Benson of Ft. Meyers, FL Harold (Mary Jeanne) Benson of Farmington, MN; two sisters, Betty Sylvis of Blair, NE Carol (Jim) Lorenzen of Lakeville, MN; twenty-three grandchildren, Casey, Brandon, Tanner, Morgan, Mitchel Kianna Benson, Michael (Samantha) Haaland, Corey (Leah) Haaland Erin Haaland, Nathan, Nicole Lauren Benson, Jaxx, Jozey Blayze Benson, Tori, Jessie, Jordan Maddie Bjerke, Karter Benson-Garr; three step-grandchildren, Cameron Johnson, Breanne Becca Bjerke, three great grandchildren, Brooke, Avery Kayleigh Haaland two step-great grandchildren, Kaleb Hoover Raelyn Grode. He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Kathleen, Shirley Francis. Loved deeply by his family and friends, Butch will be truly missed by those who knew him.