Mark Benson

Thursday, January 11, 2024 4:34 pm

Mark Benson, age 63, passed away on Jan. 9, 2024 at the Aase Haugen Home in Decorah.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024 at the Orleans Lutheran Church in rural Ridgeway. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 16 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Lindstrom Funeral Home in Cresco, and again one hour prior to services on Wednesday morning at the church.

Mark was born on Sept. 6, 1960, to Marvin and Hazel (Tangen) Benson. He attended Ridgeway Elementary School and graduated from Crestwood High School in 1979. He furthered his education at Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar.

Mark spent his entire life on the farm, keeping the farm in the Benson family for over 150 years. He was active in 4-H and Future Farmers of America at a young age and continued to raise beef cattle and farmed until his death. He spent many years doing custom work, including milking cows, helping with field work, harvesting the crops, and baling hay and cornstalks. Benny’s Baling took him all over Northeast Iowa baling thousands of bales a year. Mark was very kind-hearted and willing to lend a helping hand. He enjoyed reading and sharing stories, and was passionate about the history of the family farm. He enjoyed driving around the countryside to see how the crops were growing and finding new roads to explore.

Mark was preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and Hazel Benson. He is survived by his three sisters: Marvel Benson of Rochester, Minn., Muriel (Andy) Janneke of Vadnais Heights, Minn., and Mayme (Steve) Johnson of Cottage Grove, Minn.; and nephew Scott (Jennifer) Janneke, nieces Ann Janneke, Samantha Johnson, and Sarah Johnson, grandnephews Tucker Janneke, Avery Madison, and Lincoln Madison, and grandnieces Mikayla Janneke and Ashlee Johnson, and several cousins.

Mark’s family wants to thank friends and neighbors for all of their prayers and support for Mark, especially over the last few months.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Orleans Lutheran Church or Orleans Cemetery Fund are preferred.