Oliver Byron Benson was born March 3, 1924, in Stony Run Township of Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota, to parents Thomas and Bertina (Eide) Benson. He was the youngest of 12 children. He was baptized and confirmed at Bergen Lutheran Church. He attended School District #4 for the 1st-8th grade and then attended Granite Falls School and graduated in 1942. Oliver farmed until 1945, when he was inducted into the United States Army Infantry. He served in the military from February 1945 - November 1946. He spent much time in the Philippine Islands. While in the service he had several duties including being a Chaplin Assistant. Following his military duty, he returned home and farmed from 1947 - 1986 in the Boyd area. From 1986 - 1996 he worked in the spring and fall for a farmer and from 1994 - 2003 he worked at the Milan Beet Pile. Oliver moved to Montevideo, Minnesota, in 1989 with his sister, Minnie. He enjoyed volunteer work at Luther Haven. He volunteered in many areas, but one of his most enjoyable was working in the Chapel and singing. He was a member of the Montevideo Fiesta Barbershop Chorus and the West Central Connection of Willmar, Minnesota, for eight years. Oliver was a faithful member of Bergen Lutheran Church his entire life and enjoyed singing in the church choir. In 2005, Oliver sold his home in Montevideo and moved to Brookside Manor Apartments. He was a resident at Luther Haven Nursing Home at the time of his death, Thursday, July 30, 2009 at the age of 85 years, 4 months and 27 days. Oliver is survived by his siblings, Ruth Laemmle, Minnie Johnson, Linda (and Hilman) Korstad, Thoralf (and Myrtle) Benson and special nephews, Robert (and Jeannie) Johnson and Lowell (and Mary) Johnson plus many others nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Bertina Benson, brothers, Theodore in infancy, Harold, Eldor; and sisters, Esther Dahlgren, Ellen Weigt, Corella Rasmussen, Thelma Berg and niece Marjo Ross. Visitation: Tuesday, August 4, 2009 * 12:30~1:30 p.m. Bergen Lutheran Church Funeral Service: Tuesday, August 4, 2009 * 1:30 p.m. Bergen Lutheran Church Stony Run Township Clergy Officiating: Pastor Allan E. Johnson (Healing Waters Parish) Scripture reading: Ephesians 2: 8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast." Organist: Kathy Koetter Vocal Music: Deb Landmark "His Eye is on the Sparrow" "My Jesus, I Love Thee" "I'll Fly Away" Final Resting Place: Bergen Lutheran Cemetery Stony Run Township Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield Minnesota