Benson, Kenneth M. 1955-1977

BENSON, TOWNSEND, VAN GORP, SPARKS, ULREY, WILCOX

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 8/31/2014 at 09:37:14

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
March 1977

BENSON SERVICES HELD TUESDAY

Funeral services for Kenneth M. Benson, who died in a car accident south of Brooklyn on Saturday, March 4, were held at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Brooklyn on Tuesday, March 8 at 10 a.m.

Father Patrick McCoy officiated over the services. Neal Purdum provided organ music. Pall-bearers were Richard Doll, Gary McKeag, Dave Sutherland Jr., Bill Septer, Mark Hilleman, and Kenneth Gauley. Burial was in Jackson Township Cemetery in Montezuma.

Kenneth Benson was the son of Mark and Ardelle Townsend Benson, born in Grinnell on July 21, 1955. He attended elementary school in Kellogg and graduated from Montezuma Community High School with the class of 1973.

After his graduation, he worked for Sutherland Printing Inc., Montezuma. He was married in 1975 to Diane Van Gorp. They made their home in Montezuma while he continued to work for Sutherland.

He is survived by his wife, Diane; his mother; three sisters, Bonnie Sparks of the Philippines, and Jean Ulrey and Barb Wilcox of Montezuma; four brothers, Carroll and Don of Kellogg and Steve and Stan of Montezuma; and a grandfather, Gene Townsend of Newton. He was preceded in death by his father.

[The newspaper made an error on the name of Kenneth’s father. They have “Mark” and Kenneth’s father was Merle Royce Benson 1817-1974.

Something just didn’t register as I typed this one up. NOW, I remember....I KNEW this family waaaaay back, when they lived in Kellogg, Iowa, just up the alley-way from my Aunt and Uncle. I knew some of his older siblings, Jean and Carroll. Also, I later worked at Grinnell Reinsurance Co. when Kenneth’s sister, Barb did, altho she wasn’t married then.]