Virgil Benson, 89,, has passed away, leaving behind a family and community who loved him dearly.
What we offer here is gratitude wrapped in remembrance.
Virgil's story began in 1924, and unfolded across the years that followed.
Virgil held deeply to the Methodist faith — and was, by all accounts, loved by those who knew him best.
What is held in faith is rarely lost.
Virgil Lee "Red" Benson, 89, died Sunday, March 2, 2014 at the Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home, Viborg. Funeral services will be 10:30am Thursday, March 6, 2014 at Hofmeister Jones Funeral Chapel, Hurley with burial in the Hurley Cemetery. Virgil Lee "Red" Benson , first born of Herbert Horace "Shorty" Benson and Carrie Buckstead Seely Benson on April 12, 1924 at Hurley, SD . He attended Hurley schools and was raised in the Methodist Church. He did seasonal farm work in his younger years and would tell stories of going to North Dakota for the harvest season. On October in 1954 he was married to Vernal Robertson in Minneapolis, MN. They had a son David. Virgil, his son David and daughter in law Kathy had a favorite fishing outfitter on Lake Michigan where they shared many great memories. He later married Judy Lakings, daughter of Sam and Florence Lakings of Hurley. They lived and worked in Sioux Falls and enjoyed coming to Hurley for the Alumni Banquet and Memorial Day services. He moved to the Evergreen Assisted Living in Viborg in March of 2004. He enjoyed his meals and always said the food was good. He had his big chair under the clock and watched people. He was a defender of the girls that worked there and if he thought somebody was taking advantage of the girls he would see that it was stopped. In November of 2012 he moved to Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home where he again enjoyed meals and having his chair in front of the television. Attention from care givers was important again, he usually got what he wanted when he asked. He is survived by his brother Laverne (Velda) Benson, Rapid City; and a sister Shirley Wiepking, Fife, Washington; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son David unexpectedly, who was his world at the age of 56 on February 1, 2014, his parents, and a sister Pearl.
