Lawrence ‘Bud’ Bernard Benson, age 95, a longtime Aberdeen resident, peacefully passed on to his new life on Friday, January 12, 2024, at Angelhaus Care Center. Funeral services will be 11:00am, Friday, January 19, 2024, at Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home with Pastor Heidi Youngquist officiating. Military Honors will be provided by Sidney L. Smith American Legion Post 24. Burial will follow at Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Friday at Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, 1111 South Main Street.
Lawrence ‘Bud’ Benson was born July 7th, 1928, to Julius and Christine (Hove) Benson in Red Wing, MN. As a baby, the family moved to Aberdeen, SD, where Bud attended Henry Neil school and graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1946. Bud was proud to serve his country and joined the US Air Force on July 11th the same year. He was stationed in Panama from 1947 to 1949 at which time he was discharged. Bud attended Northern State College for one year but was then recalled to the US Air Force in September 1950 due to the Korean War. He was stationed at that time at the Rapid City Airbase as S/SGT Control Tower Chief for one year and was discharged in 1951. After serving his country, Bud began his career as a salesperson, then district manager for Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company, working there for 35 years until his retirement in January 1987. Bud met and married the love of his life, Irene Ramona Benson, on December 26th, 1954, in Hosmer, SD. They bought their first home in Aberdeen in 1956 where they created many wonderful memories raising their four children.
Bud enjoyed so many adventures during his life including many vacations camping with his family, fishing trips with his son, grandsons, and friends, and after retiring, traveling to many various places with his wife and sometimes friends. He enjoyed spending time with his children and their families entertaining them with his fun-loving ways and wonderful sense of humor. Always an optimist and perpetual joker, his presence was always cherished as he was the life of the party and made gatherings so much fun. He was an exceedingly kind and humble man with many friends and was always willing to help others with a smile on his face.
Bud was also a longtime, active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church where he enjoyed serving on the usher team for many years. He was a member of the American Legion. The true definition of this wonderful man was hair of silver and a heart of gold. He was loved by so many and will be missed.
Grateful for having shared Bud’s life are his children: Kim (Judy) Benson, Chaska, MN, Sonia (Mike) Arnoldy, Tea, SD, Susan (Bob) Margheim, Mapleton, ND, and Sally (Kevin) Vandarwarka, Aberdeen, SD; 10 grandchildren: Katie (Tyler) Lindquist, Christopher Benson, David (Heidi) Arnoldy, Steven (Emily) Arnoldy, Dan (Kristin) Arnoldy, Rob (Megan) Margheim, Kaila (Kolby) Horning, and Jamie (Bethany) Benson; and eighteen great-grandchildren.
Preceding Bud in death are his wife of 59 years, Irene; his parents; his sisters: Gladys Wahl and Lorraine Geary; brothers: Marvin Benson, and Alvin Benson, Robert Benson; granddaughters: Alisha Arnoldy and Meagan (Margheim) Bauer; and great-granddaughters: Aubrey and Briley Horning.
The family would like to express a special thank you to the staff at Bethesda Home of Aberdeen, Angelhaus and Avera@Home Hospice for their excellent care of Bud.
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