Herbert John Benke worked for Montana Dakota Utilities for 38 years, 36 of them in Lemmon. In 1996, he moved to Rapid City, where he died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital at the age of 85.
He was born Feb. 26, 1921, to Albert and Johanna (Seiling) Benke in Dent, Minn. He attended grade school in Dent and high school in Perham, Minn. For one year he was in the Civilian Conservation Camp (CCC), after which he worked for North American Air Craft Co. in California. He then entered the U.S. Air Force and served three years. On his return after his honorable discharge, he attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis for two years.
On July 25, 1950, he married Florentina Wenninger in Mobridge. Three sons, Gary, Larry and Barry, were born to their union while in Lemmon. Florentina died May 20, 1995.
In 1996, Herb married Nadine Jennings and they moved to Rapid City.
Herb was a member of the Fire Department, American Legion, National Rifle Association, Knights of Columbus, St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon, and was a City Council member for 11 years.
He was an avid sportsman, enjoyed hunting and fishing, and was an avid Minnesota Twins baseball fan. He also did wood working and displayed his works at many craft shows. After retirement, he enjoyed gardening and sharing the produce with neighbors and friends.
Surviving family members include his wife Nadine of Rapid City; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Larry (Connie) Benke of Jamestown, N.D., and Barry (Pam Hudson) Benke of Billings, Mont.; grandchildren, Heidi, Lori, Ryan and April; stepchildren, Barbara Parkison and Jeff (Laurie) Jennings of Sacramento, Calif., Steve (Cathy) Jennings of Sturgis and Jackie (Emery) Walters of Gillette, Wyo.; several step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren; one sister, Betty Kelly of Sommers Point, N.J.; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his first wife, Florentina, his son Gary, who died at 8 years of age; four brothers, Elmer, Arthur, Robert and Rueben Benke; and four sisters, Elsie Harms, Hazel Wennerlund, Ardell Ruso and Esther Larsen preceded Herb in death.
Mass of Christian Burial for Herb was celebrated Friday, Jan. 5, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon with Fr. Brian Fawcett as celebrant.
Burial was in Greenhill Cemetery with full military honors by the Brattvet-Green American Legion Post No. 66 of Lemmon.
Memorials were directed to St. Jude's Children's Home.
Mobridge Tribune January 10, 2007
He was born Feb. 26, 1921, to Albert and Johanna (Seiling) Benke in Dent, Minn. He attended grade school in Dent and high school in Perham, Minn. For one year he was in the Civilian Conservation Camp (CCC), after which he worked for North American Air Craft Co. in California. He then entered the U.S. Air Force and served three years. On his return after his honorable discharge, he attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis for two years.
On July 25, 1950, he married Florentina Wenninger in Mobridge. Three sons, Gary, Larry and Barry, were born to their union while in Lemmon. Florentina died May 20, 1995.
In 1996, Herb married Nadine Jennings and they moved to Rapid City.
Herb was a member of the Fire Department, American Legion, National Rifle Association, Knights of Columbus, St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon, and was a City Council member for 11 years.
He was an avid sportsman, enjoyed hunting and fishing, and was an avid Minnesota Twins baseball fan. He also did wood working and displayed his works at many craft shows. After retirement, he enjoyed gardening and sharing the produce with neighbors and friends.
Surviving family members include his wife Nadine of Rapid City; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Larry (Connie) Benke of Jamestown, N.D., and Barry (Pam Hudson) Benke of Billings, Mont.; grandchildren, Heidi, Lori, Ryan and April; stepchildren, Barbara Parkison and Jeff (Laurie) Jennings of Sacramento, Calif., Steve (Cathy) Jennings of Sturgis and Jackie (Emery) Walters of Gillette, Wyo.; several step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren; one sister, Betty Kelly of Sommers Point, N.J.; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his first wife, Florentina, his son Gary, who died at 8 years of age; four brothers, Elmer, Arthur, Robert and Rueben Benke; and four sisters, Elsie Harms, Hazel Wennerlund, Ardell Ruso and Esther Larsen preceded Herb in death.
Mass of Christian Burial for Herb was celebrated Friday, Jan. 5, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon with Fr. Brian Fawcett as celebrant.
Burial was in Greenhill Cemetery with full military honors by the Brattvet-Green American Legion Post No. 66 of Lemmon.
Memorials were directed to St. Jude's Children's Home.
Mobridge Tribune January 10, 2007
Herbert John Benke worked for Montana Dakota Utilities for 38 years, 36 of them in Lemmon. In 1996, he moved to Rapid City, where he died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital at the age of 85.
He was born Feb. 26, 1921, to Albert and Johanna (Seiling) Benke in Dent, Minn. He attended grade school in Dent and high school in Perham, Minn. For one year he was in the Civilian Conservation Camp (CCC), after which he worked for North American Air Craft Co. in California. He then entered the U.S. Air Force and served three years. On his return after his honorable discharge, he attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis for two years.
On July 25, 1950, he married Florentina Wenninger in Mobridge. Three sons, Gary, Larry and Barry, were born to their union while in Lemmon. Florentina died May 20, 1995.
In 1996, Herb married Nadine Jennings and they moved to Rapid City.
Herb was a member of the Fire Department, American Legion, National Rifle Association, Knights of Columbus, St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon, and was a City Council member for 11 years.
He was an avid sportsman, enjoyed hunting and fishing, and was an avid Minnesota Twins baseball fan. He also did wood working and displayed his works at many craft shows. After retirement, he enjoyed gardening and sharing the produce with neighbors and friends.
Surviving family members include his wife Nadine of Rapid City; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Larry (Connie) Benke of Jamestown, N.D., and Barry (Pam Hudson) Benke of Billings, Mont.; grandchildren, Heidi, Lori, Ryan and April; stepchildren, Barbara Parkison and Jeff (Laurie) Jennings of Sacramento, Calif., Steve (Cathy) Jennings of Sturgis and Jackie (Emery) Walters of Gillette, Wyo.; several step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren; one sister, Betty Kelly of Sommers Point, N.J.; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his first wife, Florentina, his son Gary, who died at 8 years of age; four brothers, Elmer, Arthur, Robert and Rueben Benke; and four sisters, Elsie Harms, Hazel Wennerlund, Ardell Ruso and Esther Larsen preceded Herb in death.
Mass of Christian Burial for Herb was celebrated Friday, Jan. 5, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon with Fr. Brian Fawcett as celebrant.
Burial was in Greenhill Cemetery with full military honors by the Brattvet-Green American Legion Post No. 66 of Lemmon.
Memorials were directed to St. Jude's Children's Home.
Mobridge Tribune January 10, 2007
He was born Feb. 26, 1921, to Albert and Johanna (Seiling) Benke in Dent, Minn. He attended grade school in Dent and high school in Perham, Minn. For one year he was in the Civilian Conservation Camp (CCC), after which he worked for North American Air Craft Co. in California. He then entered the U.S. Air Force and served three years. On his return after his honorable discharge, he attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis for two years.
On July 25, 1950, he married Florentina Wenninger in Mobridge. Three sons, Gary, Larry and Barry, were born to their union while in Lemmon. Florentina died May 20, 1995.
In 1996, Herb married Nadine Jennings and they moved to Rapid City.
Herb was a member of the Fire Department, American Legion, National Rifle Association, Knights of Columbus, St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon, and was a City Council member for 11 years.
He was an avid sportsman, enjoyed hunting and fishing, and was an avid Minnesota Twins baseball fan. He also did wood working and displayed his works at many craft shows. After retirement, he enjoyed gardening and sharing the produce with neighbors and friends.
Surviving family members include his wife Nadine of Rapid City; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Larry (Connie) Benke of Jamestown, N.D., and Barry (Pam Hudson) Benke of Billings, Mont.; grandchildren, Heidi, Lori, Ryan and April; stepchildren, Barbara Parkison and Jeff (Laurie) Jennings of Sacramento, Calif., Steve (Cathy) Jennings of Sturgis and Jackie (Emery) Walters of Gillette, Wyo.; several step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren; one sister, Betty Kelly of Sommers Point, N.J.; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his first wife, Florentina, his son Gary, who died at 8 years of age; four brothers, Elmer, Arthur, Robert and Rueben Benke; and four sisters, Elsie Harms, Hazel Wennerlund, Ardell Ruso and Esther Larsen preceded Herb in death.
Mass of Christian Burial for Herb was celebrated Friday, Jan. 5, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon with Fr. Brian Fawcett as celebrant.
Burial was in Greenhill Cemetery with full military honors by the Brattvet-Green American Legion Post No. 66 of Lemmon.
Memorials were directed to St. Jude's Children's Home.
Mobridge Tribune January 10, 2007
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