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Mae Bergman Benzel, 80,of Oakes, passed away unexpectedly on June 4, 2014, at Sanford Hospital in Fargo.
She was born to Edward & Anna (Bugner) Bergman, April 13, 1934 in Oakes. She was the 9th of ten children. She went to country school in Straubville, attended school in Oakes and Forman, and graduated from Cogswell High School in 1952. She attended North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, graduating with a Secretarial degree and went to work for Prudential Insurance in Minneapolis, where she was one of the first 50 employees. There she met Max Benzel and they were married on January 15, 1955. With the passing of Max’s uncle, Bill Benzel, they moved back to the family farm in Oakes two years later. It was hard times for a few years, until they bought the Kraft farm, but they prospered. They had their first child, William “Bill” Benzel in 1957, followed four years later by their daughter, Joan Benzel. In 1981, Max and Darlene moved off the farm, into Oakes, where she resided until the time of her death. Max passed away on November 17, 1986.
Darlene was very involved in her community and enjoyed many hobbies. She was the Tornado Wrestling team’s biggest fan, often riding the team bus. She was a Lutheran Sunday School Teacher for many years in Cogswell and enjoyed gardening and canning, giving a lot of it away. She made the best pies and brownies around. She enjoyed camping and family vacations and had fond memories of many Centennial wagon trains and parades, riding in the buggy with Max, pulled by their team of horses, Duchess and Teko. She was very involved with Grace Lutheran Church, Relay for Life, community pumpkin patch, worked at the Senior Citizen Center, and volunteered to deliver Meals on Wheels. She was most proud of her grandchildren, Katie Benzel and Cody Benzel.
Darlene was preceded in death by her husband, Max, her parents, Edward and Anna, siblings, Eddie Bergman, Hilda Dawson, Ralph Bergman, Fern Komar, Ken Bergman, Ellen Sterner and Norman Bergman. She is survived by her son, Bill (Lisa) Benzel, grandchildren Katie (Brian Phillips) Benzel and Cody (Erin Kinney) Benzel, all of Dillon, MT, daughter, Joan (Henry Cheesman) Benzel, Thompson Falls, MT, sister, Evelyn Best of Oakes, brother, Orvin (Carole) Bergman of Fort Valley, GA, and numerous nieces and nephews, who were near and dear to her heart. Everyone who met Darlene was her friend, and she will be greatly missed by all of them.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 8, 2014 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. with a prayer service starting at 5:00 p.m. at Dahlstrom Funeral Home, Oakes. Her funeral service will be Monday, June 9, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Oakes, with interment to follow in the Oakes View Cemetery. There will be a reception following in the fellowship hall at the Grace Lutheran Church. An on-line guestbook may be signed at www.dahlstromfuneralhome.com