Donald G. Benson

Donald G. Benson, 89, of Pender died Thursday, July 10, 2008, at Pender Community Hospital. Services will be 10 a.m. Monday at United Church of Pender. Burial will be in Rosehill Cemetery, with military rites conducted by American Legion Post 55. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service Monday at the church. The family wishes for memorials to be made to the Pender American Legion or the United Church of Pender. Donald Gilbert Benson was born on June 13, 1919 in Pender, Nebraska, the son of R. Craig and Mae (Combs) Benson. He was raised in Pender, graduating from Pender High School in 1937. He attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln where he played football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers during his freshman year. Don married Mildred Cromer on November 2, 1941. She passed away on December 25, 1967. He entered the U.S. Army and served as a 1st Lieutenant in the European Theater during WWII. Don returned to Pender after his service. He worked with his father and later owned and operated Benson Hardware and Implement. Later, he farmed in the Pender area. On November 27, 1974, Don married Norma (Geuder) Elmquist. The couple split their time between Pender and Green Valley, Arizona. He enjoyed golf, and was club champion at the Beemer Country Club in 1974. Don is survived by his wife, Norma of Pender, son Bill Benson and his wife Kim of Norfolk, NE; daughter Jan Fremarek of Columbus, NE; ten grandchildren: Mike (Jessica) Aerni of Golden, CO; Michelle Aermi of St. Paul, MN; Jeff (Jill) Fremarek of Columbus, NE; Jen (David) Welte of Denver, CO; Leigh (Melenda) Rexius of Yuma, AZ; Tim (Melissa) Rexius of Sioux Falls, SD; Craig Benson of Garden City, KS; Scott Benson of Norfolk; Dustin Hamm of Omaha, NE; Nicole Hamm of Sun Valley, ID, and 7 great grandchildren. He was also survived by stepson Dale (Grace) Elmquist of San Diego, CA; stepson Bill Elmquist of Lincoln, NE; Step grandchildren: Tracy Elmquist of West Point, NE; Valerie Recker of Lincoln, NE; Leah Elmquist also of Lincoln. Don was preceded in death by his parents, wife Millie, daughters Julie Aerni and Barb Hamm, step-daughters Barb Miller and Pam Anderson and a Son-in-law, Steven Fremarek.