Dean Elroy Benson, 66, of Wolford, ND, passed away Friday, June 28, 2024, at the Towner County Medical Center in Cando, ND.
A celebration of life with full military honors will be held at North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, ND, at 12:00 noon on July 22, 2024. Following this service, a memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. at the Hal Parker Post #79 American Legion Memorial Building Legion Hall in Cando, ND.
Dean was born the son of Dick and Babe (Jolliffe) Benson August 2, 1957 in Rolla ND. He attended school in Wolford, ND, graduating high school in 1975.
Dean enlisted in the U.S. Navy immediately following his high school graduation serving four years. He received an honorable discharge and then enlisted in the Army National Guard for 39 years. During this time, Dean also served active duty during Operation Desert Storm. He was employed by the State of North Dakota at Camp Grafton as Security Supervisor. Dean retired with 43 years of military service in 2017.
Dean was united in marriage to his soulmate, Kathryn Lang of Quebec, Canada on July 1, 1987, at the Benson family cabin on Fish Lake, ND. They made their home on his family farm near Wolford. Dean’s wife, Kathy, passed away in November of 2022 and is buried at the ND Veterans Cemetery.
Dean attended the North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, followed by employment as an over-the-road trucker, and working for area farmers, including many years with Lewallen Farms, where he was treated as family.
Dean enjoyed spending time at his and Kathy’s (Klang’s) cabin at Adams Lake in Canada and later at the family cabin at Fish Lake, ND. Dean was at his very heart a motorcyclist from a very young age, owning several bikes and more recently his treasured Can-Am Spyder. After Kathy passed, Dean rode out the rest of his retirement doing what he loved best; logging over 14,000 miles on road trips to many places in North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana.
Survived by brothers Rick Benson of Cando, and Randy (Kathy) Benson of Bisbee, ND.; nieces Rebecca (Tracy Tarr) Lee and Emily Lee both of Minneapolis, MN; nephew Jarrin Benson and daughter Lennon of Portland OR; niece Sara (Kyle) McClammer and sons Max and George of Indianapolis IN; brother-in-law Don Lee of Minot, ND; mother-in-law Esther Lang and sisters-in-law Judy Lang and Teresa Lang all of Canada.
Dean was preceded in death by his wife Kathryn (Klang), parents Dick and Babe Benson, sister Carla Lee, sister-in-law LaVonna Benson, and nephew Jay Essen.
Memorials are preferred to American Legion Hal Parker Post of Cando, PO Box 863, Cando, ND 58324 or UFFDA Animal Rescue, PO Box 454, Cando ND 58324.
Online guestbook is available at www.dunnigandix.com
Dunnigan-Dix Funeral Home of Cando, ND is in charge of arrangements.
