William "Bill" Norman Benson

William Norman Benson, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, was born on March 1, 1935, in Perham, Minnesota, to William Edward and Della (Ramsey) Flagg. After the passing of his mother shortly after his birth, he was lovingly taken into the care of his aunt and uncle, Charles and Ruth (Ramsey) Benson, at just eight months old, and was adopted by them in 1949. Bill graduated from Earlham Community Schools with the class of 1953 and was baptized as an adult in 1955 at the First Presbyterian Church in Earlham.

On February 13, 1955, Bill married the love of his life, Marjorie Harris, at her parents’ home in Earlham. The couple made their home in Schleswig and were blessed with five daughters: Tina, Christy, Sharon, Della, and Kimberly. After years of agricultural farming, Bill transitioned to a fulfilling career as a hog buyer for Farmland Foods, where he worked until his retirement in 1997, at the age of 62. Throughout his career, Bill meticulously tracked the purchase of over two million hogs—a testament to his dedication and hard work.

Bill was an active member of the United Church of Christ and served as the mayor of Schleswig. He was known in the community for his jolly role as Santa Claus, bringing joy and laughter to children for many years. Bill and Marge also shared a love for bowling, where they were part of a mixed league, and Bill proudly sponsored Marge's team, “Bill’s Girls.”

A lover of the outdoors, Bill enjoyed fishing trips in South Dakota with friends and spent countless hours tending to his yard, flower garden, and vegetable garden. He was an ardent fan of the Minnesota Vikings and NASCAR, especially following Dale Jarrett, and cherished attending games and races with his family. His daughters hold fond memories of time spent together around the fireplace, creating moments of warmth and love. Bill’s devotion to his family was evident in the way he cherished his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Bill passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at Gracewell – Eventide Lutheran Home in Denison, Iowa, at the age of 89 years, eight months, and 25 days. He was preceded in death by his parents; adoptive parents; beloved wife, Marge; granddaughter, Lauren "Rudy" Goodenow; son-in-law, Craig Pfannkuch; great-grandson, Trig Collins; and sister, Neva (Ralph) Wheeldon.

Bill is survived by his five daughters: Tina (Brian) Wellendorf of Ida Grove, Chris Pfannkuch of Phoenix, Arizona, Sharon Benson of Des Moines, Della Goodenow (Jerry Kruse) of Lake View, and Kim (Brad) Waldemar of Deloit; eight grandchildren: Aleisha, Cody, Ashley, Robi, Maggie, Abby, Kenzie, and Macy; 14 great-grandchildren; two great-great-granddaughters; nephew, Chuck Wheeldon; niece, Joyce Wagener; sister-in-law, Cozette Harris of Stuart; and many other relatives and friends.

A funeral service to celebrate Bill’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 2, 2024, at the United Church of Christ in Schleswig, with visitation from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow in the Morgan Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family for a donation to be made in Bill's name.