Charles Bensman

BENSMAN SCHULTE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/18/2010 at 21:53:37

Woodbury County History 1984

Charles and Virginia Bensman
By Charles Bensman

Charles and Virginia (Schulte) Bensman were born in Mercer County, Ohio. The small town of Celina has been home to both their families for the past 50 years. Charles is of German descent and his family spent their early years in farming as did ‘Virginia’s French and German descendants. Charles has one sister and Virginia has two sisters and one brother, all still living in the Celina area, as are their parents, Louis, (wife Luedna d December 24, 1955) and Ralph and Mary Athey Bensman. Immaculate Conception School provided early education and has given them life long friendship.

Charles enlisted in the USAF in 1951 and upon his discharged he entered the University of Dayton in 1955. Graduation in 1959 gave him a degree in education. Virginia entered Good Samaritan School of Nursing in Dayton in 1958, receiving her RN in 1958. Romance grew into marriage on May 2, 1959.

Their first two years of marriage were spent in Celina where Charles taught at Immaculate Conception High School and Virginia worked as a surgical nurse at Otis Hospital. Charles taught another year in Minster, Ohio, before moving to Dayton, Ohio, to work at the University as Asst. Director of Admissions and complete his masters degree. Virginia worked as a Public Health nurse until the birth of their son, Andrew Louis on Oct 11, 1963. 1964 brought a brief return to Celina before Charles became Supt. Of Marion Local Schools in Maria Stein, Ohio. October 11, 1965, brought to the family, a daughter, Julia Marie, giving them two children with the same birth date. Charles continued his studies and in 1969 received his doctorate degree from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Two months prior to their next move to Ludington, Michigan, Joseph Charles was born to the family on March 6, 1971. Now, with three small children and a dog, Scotty, they moved North, where Charles was employed as Dean of Academics at West Shore Community College in Ludington, Michigan.

The next five years in Ludington were enjoyable growing years. The children entered parochial schools, First Communions were made, and youth sports were enjoyed. The beautiful Falls of the North, lovely Lake Michigan, and endearing friends are all precious memories.

1974 brought a time of change. Charles accepted the Presidency of Nebraska Western Community College in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. With close family ties, the Bensman’s decided to return to Celina where Charles gained experience as Vice President of Marketing at Spicker Bros. and Virginia tired a new area of venture when they bought Williams Jewelry Store. The children were growing rapidly and the youngest son, Joseph, started school, Andrew completed elementary school, Julie was involved in swimming and her mid-school years.

On November 28, 1977, Charles accepted a position that was a dream fulfilled. This dream was his inauguration as the 6th president of Briar Cliff College, a Franciscan College in Sioux City, Iowa. Several months later Virginia and the children moved into the president’s house at 3741 Lindenwood. Briar Cliff has filled their lives with tears and laughter and many good friends. Charles remains very active in the community and the Church, being ordained a Deacon in the Sioux City Diocese on April 11, 1981.

At the time of this writing, Andrew is a sophomore at Creighton University at Omaha, Nebraska; Julie is a senior at Heelan High School; and Joseph is in the 7th grade at Blessed Sacrament School. Iowa is now a very loving part of their heritage.