Dick A. Beenken 1911-1976

BEENKEN, SPEAR, BRUNS, ANDERSON, GRAY, PANNKUK, LARSON, LIVERCA, NERDIG, KIEWIET, HAGENSON, TJARKS, HASSENBROEK, KUCHENREUTHER, LIMBERG, MURRAY, RADMAKER, ROTH, STEINFELDT, SULLIVAN, WEAVER, WINTER, PETERSON

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 4/18/2011 at 20:18:09

Funeral services for Dick A. Beenken, 65, of Buffalo Center were held Monday afternoon, June 28, at 1:30 p.m. from the First Reformed Church in Buffalo Center with Rev. John Ailts officiating. Mr. Beenken passed away Thursday, June 24.

Dick Albert Beenken was born April 29, 1911 at rural Titonka, Iowa. He was the fourth son of Berend and Tena (Spear) Beenken. He was baptized as an infant at the Ramsey Reformed Church of rural Titonka and attended the Sunday School and Catechism and became a member of that church in October of 1935.

He attended the rural schools and grew to manhood in the Titonka area. In June of 1942 he was inducted into the US Armed Forces. He served in the Medical Corp in Europe during World War II until November of 1945. In later years he became a member of the American Legion Post 21.

After his return from service, he was united in marriage to Tressie Bruns, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bruno Bruns, Sr. at her parents' home in Buffalo Center. To this union were born two children, Joyce and Dean. They farmed near Titonka for twelve years, the, in march of 1958, they moved to their present farm near Rake, Iowa. He transferred membership from Ramsey Reformed to the First Reformed Church in Buffalo Center in 1967. Farming was his life's occupation and he enjoyed working with nature.

Surviving are his beloved wife Tressie, his daughter, Joyce, and her husband, Ronald Anderson, and their daughters, Kristin and Amy of Buffalo Center, and his son, Dean of Spencer, Iowa. Also he is survived by three brothers, Herman of Buffalo Center and Ben and Harold of Titonka; two sisters, Kate, Mrs. Elmer Gray of Buffalo Center, and Grace, Mrs. John Pannkuk of Titonka and a host of other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother.

Pallbearers were Glenn Larson, Robert Liverca, Harvey Nerdig, Carl Kiewiet, Keith Hagenson and Roger Tjarks. Interment was in Olena Mound cemetery. Military rites were held by members of the American Legion and the V.F.W. Color Guard. Taking part were Harvey Hassebroek, Terry Kiewiet, Leonard Kuchenreuther, Amel Limberg, James Murray, Fred Radmaker, Norman Roth, Charles Steinfeldt, Justice Sullivan, Larry Weaver, Edward Winter and John R. Winter, and taps were by Keith Peterson.

~Buffalo Center Tribune, July 1, 1976