Randy was born July 15, 1954 in Caledonia to Jimmie and LaVonne (Aasum) Benson. He was baptized and confirmed at the Scheie Lutheran Church in rural Mabel, and graduated from the Mabel-Canton High School in 1972. From February, 1975 until November, 1977 he served in the United States Marine Corps. After his discharge he returned to the Mabel area for a short time before moving west to Casper, Wyoming. It was there that he met his wife Sandy. They moved back to Mabel and in 1983 were married in Fountain, Minnesota. He drove truck delivering concrete and gravel for many years for Carlson Companies and later Bruening Rock Products.
Randy was a member of the Scheie Lutheran Church and Trailbusters Snowmobile Club. He enjoyed having kids around, hunting and the outdoors, riding his snowmobile and motorcycle, and helping groom the snowmobile trails.
Randy passed away Thursday, January 19, 2012 at his home in Mabel following a long battle with cancer at the age of 57.
Randy is survived by his wife Sandy of Mabel; daughter Cherri (Steve) Jepson of Salt Lake City, Utah; son Bernie (Erin) Baker of Windsor, Colorado; three grandchildren Lauren and Aries Jepson, and Marcus Baker; his father Jimmie (friend Dorothy Opsahl) Benson of Mabel; a brother Rick of Mabel; three sisters Rosilee Brock of Lake Charles, Louisiana, Rosslyn (Chris) Tranaas of Fountain Hills, Arizona, and Lisa (Mike) Johnson of Canton; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother and grandparents.
Memorial services will be 2 PM Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at the Scheie Lutheran Church in rural Mabel with the Rev. Mary Waudby officiating. Inurnment will be in the Mabel Lutheran Cemetery with military rites by the American Legion and VFW. Visitation will be from 4 – 7 Monday at the Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel. Memorials are preferred and will be distributed locally. |
