1916
Leo
2012
Leo Benham
May 31, 1916 — March 12, 2012
Leo Warren Benham of Morris died on Monday, March 12, 2012, at the age of 95. Funeral services for Leo will be held Friday, March 16, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at the Morris Evangelical Free Church in Morris, MN. Reverend Neil Leroux will be officiating. Visitation will be held Thursday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., with a prayer service at 7:00 at the Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris and for one hour prior to services at the church on Friday. Burial will be at the rural Chokio Cemetery.
Leo was born May 31, 1916 on a farm by Montevideo to Herbert and Anna Mae (Mitchell) Benham. At the age of 14, Leo and his family moved to a farm by Danvers, MN. He attended schools in Montevideo and rural Tara Township in Swift County. Leo worked on his father's farm and for his neighbors until 1951 when he established his own farm near Chokio.
Leo was united in marriage to Lillian Jipson on September 2, 1951 at the Chokio United Methodist Church. The couple resided on their farm until September 1994 when they moved into Morris. Leo retired from farming in 1977. He was Stevens County Agricultural Inspector and Township Assessor for 14 years. He attended the Chokio United Methodist Church.
His interests included his family, farming, walking, woodworking, and reading. Leo had a love for nature and enjoyed watching and feeding birds. He could identify birds by song. He loved music, especially his daughters' piano playing. Leo instilled in his children the importance of a good education and strong work ethic. He loved traveling and vacations at the lake with his family.
Leo is preceded in death by his parents and five siblings, Roy, Wes, Ellen, Erma and infant sister, Helen.
Leo is survived by his wife, Lillian of Morris. One son, Mark Benham of Springfield, Missouri. Five daughters: Sue (Scott) Buss of Champlin; Beth (Dean) Bourne of Montevideo; Myrna (Terry) Hoffa of North Branch; Sandy (Steve) Sather of Brooklyn Park; and Anne (Gary) Nelson of Hutchinson. Ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren: Nicole (Chris) John and their children Nate and Devin; Ryan Buss; Ethan (Michelle) Sletten and their child Taylor; Brett Sletten; Bill Hoffa; Alec, Jenna and Andrew Nelson; Nick Bourne and Erin (Terry) Northrup. Three sisters-in-law; Bernice Benham of Benson, Myrtie Diehl of Morris, and Belva Jipson of Graceville. Many nieces and nephews, special friends and neighbors of Ridge Road in Morris.
Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements. To send condolences to the family please visit www.pedersenfh.com.
Leo was born May 31, 1916 on a farm by Montevideo to Herbert and Anna Mae (Mitchell) Benham. At the age of 14, Leo and his family moved to a farm by Danvers, MN. He attended schools in Montevideo and rural Tara Township in Swift County. Leo worked on his father's farm and for his neighbors until 1951 when he established his own farm near Chokio.
Leo was united in marriage to Lillian Jipson on September 2, 1951 at the Chokio United Methodist Church. The couple resided on their farm until September 1994 when they moved into Morris. Leo retired from farming in 1977. He was Stevens County Agricultural Inspector and Township Assessor for 14 years. He attended the Chokio United Methodist Church.
His interests included his family, farming, walking, woodworking, and reading. Leo had a love for nature and enjoyed watching and feeding birds. He could identify birds by song. He loved music, especially his daughters' piano playing. Leo instilled in his children the importance of a good education and strong work ethic. He loved traveling and vacations at the lake with his family.
Leo is preceded in death by his parents and five siblings, Roy, Wes, Ellen, Erma and infant sister, Helen.
Leo is survived by his wife, Lillian of Morris. One son, Mark Benham of Springfield, Missouri. Five daughters: Sue (Scott) Buss of Champlin; Beth (Dean) Bourne of Montevideo; Myrna (Terry) Hoffa of North Branch; Sandy (Steve) Sather of Brooklyn Park; and Anne (Gary) Nelson of Hutchinson. Ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren: Nicole (Chris) John and their children Nate and Devin; Ryan Buss; Ethan (Michelle) Sletten and their child Taylor; Brett Sletten; Bill Hoffa; Alec, Jenna and Andrew Nelson; Nick Bourne and Erin (Terry) Northrup. Three sisters-in-law; Bernice Benham of Benson, Myrtie Diehl of Morris, and Belva Jipson of Graceville. Many nieces and nephews, special friends and neighbors of Ridge Road in Morris.
Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements. To send condolences to the family please visit www.pedersenfh.com.
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