"Bev & Family, My heart goes out to all of you, Max was a gift to the community in so many areas, he will be greatly missed. I will always have fond memories of him from the Saddle Club & selling me my first horse. He helped nurture my passion for horses. He was a truley great man."
In loving memory of
Max E. Benson
July 21, 1933 - April 12, 2008
RUSHFORD, MINN. - Max E. Benson, 74, of rural Rushford, died on Saturday, April 12, 2008, at his home.
Max was born on July 21, 1933, in Alexander, Iowa to Dale and Hazel (Arends) Benson. He was raised in Alexander until he was 16, when his family moved to Grand Meadow, Minn. He was a 1950 graduate of Elkton High School. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. On January 21, 1961, Max married Bev Larson in Austin, Minn. Max and Bev moved to Peterson, Minn. in 1964, and in 1975 moved to their current residence east of Rushford. Max farmed all of his life. He was a member of Rushford Lutheran Church where he taught Sunday school for over 20 years. Max was past commander of the VFW in Rushford. He was a member of the American Legion Post in Rushford, The Minnesota Thoroughbred Association, Registered Red Angus Association, Money Creek Township Board, and was one of the originators of the Root River Saddle Club. Horses, cattle, conservation and most of all his grandchildren were the passions of his life.
Max is survived by his wife Bev; one son: McLean (Becky) Benson of Winona, Minn.; three daughters: Tracy (Dana) Coulter of Rushford, Toni (Kenny) Highum of Rushford, and Terri Benson of St. Paul, Minn.; six grandchildren: Jacob, Tyler, Shane, Cody, Kyra and Tanner; three brothers: Rex Benson of Plano, Texas, Reg (Diane) Benson of Grand Meadow, Minn., and Duane (Melissa) Benson of Lanesboro, Minn.; two sisters: Dixie (Ron) Mathews of Rhinelander, Wis. and Val Jean (Tom) Thorsen of Grand Meadow, Minn.; one sister-in-law: Darlene Benson of Grand Meadow, Minn.; and many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter, Tricia, and one Brother, Dale.
The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday at Rushford Lutheran Church with the Rev. Roger Michaelson officiating. Burial will be at the Rushford Lutheran Cemetery with military honors by the Rushford American Legion. Friends may call from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday at Hoff Funeral Homes Rushford Chapel and one hour prior to the service on Thursday at the church.
Please feel free to sign Max's online guestbook, leave a memory, and view his tribute video at www.hofffuneral.com
Tribute video can be found at: http://videos.lifetributes.com/?id=14924
Tributes
"I was saddened to read of your loss. Your dad was a great friend of our family. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs."
"Our sypathy to Bev and the rest of your family. May you know that you have so many friends and family surrounding you all with prayers and love. Peggy"
"Max was a fine Christian gentleman and I look forward to seeing him in heaven."
"Bev and Family, I extend my condolences to you and your family. I hope that time and memories will help lessen the burden of your sorrow, and that you may draw some measure of comfort knowing that others care and share in your loss. Donna"
"Bev and family, My thoughts and prayers are with you. I have always heard so many fun stories about Max, you and my parents. What a great guy and he will be missed. Love, Deanna"
"Our sincere condolence is with you in this difficult time. May the many cherished memories be of comfort! "
"Bev, we were so sorry to hear of Max's passing. We met you at the MTA TB yearling sale last year and had enjoyed our short visit with you both so much! Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. "
"I just had to tell your family how much Max impressed me with the few times I was around him. We were in church and my daughter and some of the other girls in her youth group had gone on a mission trip to South Dakota. After church the girls had gathered in the basement to talk to people about the trip. Max and Bev came up to Wayne and I and Max said how proud he was of these girls and what they had done. He was so touched by what the girls had done he had tears in his eyes. Bev told us he just loves these kids. It just really touched me that someone would could get that involved with kids in our community. It went right to my heart strings and I will never forget it. It was also so touching to see Max play with the little kids in church that sat in front of him. He would make faces at them and play with them and the parents wouldn't even know it! I loved it. I learned more from watching Max than I did from the sermons! Max touched so many lives he will be missed so much. May your family love and remember all the wonderful things Max has done."
"Terri and the Benson Family; I am so very sorry to hear about your Father. My thoughts and prayers are with you all."
"I just want to express my sympathies and say I am sorry! Oh how I do remember like it was just yesterday and Max was teaching our Sunday School class, he did have a way with us kids and more importantly he was a proud grampa "then of only little Jacob" and boy did he have stories to tell with the biggest, most proudest smile you could ever imagine! He was such a good example of what a grampa should be, how sweet. Again my sympathies to each one of the Benson's and their children, you are all in my prayers as I know it must not be easy to lose what probably seemed like the rock of your family. Here's a hug to you all!!"
"I was very sad to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with your entire family."
"Bev, my mom called yesterday with the news of your husband's death. I'm so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you and your family."
"Bev and family, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Max will be missed, but I am sure God has a bigger job for him now. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. I'll be in touch soon, Bev."
"Words can not express our sympathy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of you. I feel fortunate to have grown up around Max and your family. I will always remember the times on your farm growing up."
"Terri, My prayers and condolences to you and your family. You each are a great tribute to your father. I know you have wonderful memories of your father and his love for the farm, horses and family. These memories will help ease the pain and will often bring a smile. Please know that we care and look forward to your sharing more stories with us about your dad. "
"Words do not express the sorrow that we all feel as a family. I am deeply affected by Max's loss, but take comfort in knowing that he is looking out for us from above. Max is with his Father in Heaven. Love and Peace."
"Sorry we are unable to be with you at this time. We are still in Corpus Christi, TX. It was a shock to hear and I'm sure an even bigger shock for all of you. Max will be missed by many people, because he was a special person. Bev, we will call on you when we get back, All our love and prayers are with you, Rich & Rose"
"Dear Family- we are at a loss for words. We are the suffering ones.Our life is a gift-and we have been blessed with Max and all his knowledge and all that he has given to us.Mike will always remember his years of growing up with your family- one very special Uncle has contributed to his life. Max's legacy continues with the pride and joy he has expressed over his devoted family-he knows you are strong. Our love and prayers be with all of you at this time and in the days ahead.Tricia and her Daddy are forever together... one can smile for them.."
"Words can not decribe the pain and sorrow that we are all feeling, But most of all his family. Max was a wonderful man, so many stories and his laugh. We will surely miss him. All our love to you."
"My thoughts are with you and your family during this tough time. I only met Max once, out at Canterbury, but it was enough to know that he was a great man who will be missed by many. I am so sorry for your loss."
"To Bev, kids and grandkids: Your loss is great, our loss is also. Max was a great friend of Bernie's from when he moved to Minnesota. So happy that we were able to spend some time with you guys last summer when we were back to the Midwest. Our memories are many and wonderful of Max. Sorry we can not be there for you physically but we are there in thought and prayers. Love to all! Bernie and Jo Baldus"
"So sorry for your loss. I will always remember how thoughtful and caring Max was during some of the trying times with Michael's surgery. He will be dearly missed, but I am assured he will be watching down on all of us and smiling. Our prayers are with you, God Bless."
"Max's laugh will be so deeply missed but I know his spirit and love for life lives on in everyone of the Benson family members. I'm honored to have known such a great man!!"
"Deepest sympathies to the Benson family and the entire community who now grieve a great loss. My prayers are with you. Many memories of fun times and thoughtful discussions will be with me forever. Take comfort in the strong faith he had and shared with everyone he met. We lost a great friend, but gained a guardian angel."
"Duane, Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. The Minnesota Business Partnership Members, Deputies and Staff"
""I just love the spring when the farm is blanketed in all that new life." Max said that to me - or at least something a lot like it - way back about twenty years ago and I will always and especially think of those words whenever I think of him. Max has always had an eye and a heart for the little ones and the most vulnerable in our world. I think that is what drew him to Jesus, the one who said, "Let the little ones come to me": It takes one to know one, you know. There is a bittersweet comfort in knowing that Max had just helped a young calf in the moments before his death. The other thing I always treasured about Max was that he was such a free thinker. I think I teased him once that he was really generous... with his opinions. But that really is an important feature of Max. He always had a unique and thoughtful way of approaching matters and he respected and encouraged the same quality in others - whether they agreed with him or not. You always knew you were safe to be yourself with Max. I am sure that is what made him such a fine Sunday school teacher. Bev and family, I know this leaves a large hole in your hearts. But I also know that part of Max's legacy is that your family is so full of love. I smile as I think of the ways you are supporting one another and "blanketing one another with love" during these spring days. Remember that they are also "Easter Days," days blanketed with new life. And give thanks for our God who enfolds Max now in the blanket of his remarkable love. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed and calls Max home to new, resurrection life. Kristen sends her love and her very fond memories of Max, too. He really made her feel at home when she moved to Rushford. With Much Love, Erik, Kristen, Anders, and Henrik Wilson Weiberg"
"Dear Terri and Family, I am very sorry for the loss of your dear father. Please rely on your faith in God to give you the strength and courage you need now. I know you will miss him every day."
"My sincere sympathy, may you experience the grace of God and the comfort of His everlasting arms upholding you"
"Mike and I will miss your encouraging words and smiles telling us we are good a good parenting job, but most of all Memphis and Macy will miss "giving you five". We are fortunate for have these memories."
"Terri and the Benson Family: Though I had never met Max, I feel like I knew the kind of person that he was based on the wonderful words that I would hear about him from Terri. I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you and my wish is for you to remember all of those wonderful things during this difficult time."
"I last saw Max at the Alexander Ia. all class reunion a few years ago. I was so happy to see him and catch up on his family. He and Dale loved teasing me when we were kids riding on the school bus, that Uncle Dale drove. That was before they moved to Minnesota. So sad, but what a way to go, I pray for the same when it's my time to go. Love to you all, Ruth and Mike O'Connor"