Funeral Services for Reuben Benz, 82, of Dunn Center will be at 11 a.m. Friday, May 1, at Normanna Lutheran Church, Dunn Center, with Pastor Joel Sauerwein officiating. Burial will follow at the Dunn Center Cemetery. Visitation for Reuben will be from noon to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at Stevenson Funeral Home, Killdeer, with a prayer service taking place at 7 p.m.
Reuben passed away on Saturday, April 25, 2009, at the Hill Top Home of Comfort in Killdeer.
Reuben Benz was born Oct. 25, 1926 to Frank and Barbara (Unterseher) Benz on the family farm in Dunn County. Reuben grew up with his 11 siblings and attended country school in Dunn County. After school he continued to work on the Benz family farm for a number of years. At a dance in Dunn Center, Reuben met Janet Pelton and the two were married on Nov. 23, 1947. To this union eight children were born. The couple made their home on the Pelton Coal Mine until they moved into Dunn Center in 1953. In the early 1960's, Reuben began working for Northern Improvement as a heavy equipment operator and did so until he retired. Reuben and Janet continued to live in Dunn Center for the rest of their days. He liked to garden, make sausage and every fall they canned and distributed their goods to all. Reuben was known as the "Official Fix-It Man" in Dunn Center. He was a very good neighbor, and helped all those who needed a hand. Reuben was a faithful member of the Normanna Lutheran Church, Dunn Center Fire Department, town council and the church council. He had a love for his family and enjoyed spending time with them. Reuben always greeted everyone with a smile.
Reuben is survived by three sons: Robert Benz, Great Falls, Mont., Nick (Becky) Benz, Dunn Center and Tom (Twila) Benz, Killdeer; four daughters; Barbara Bentz, Dickinson, Deborah (Albert) Pavlicek, Dickinson, Fammie Heupel, Bismarck and Carrie (Wayne) Oukrop, Billings, Mont.; 21 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren; brothers, Harold (Rosa) Benz, Killdeer, Frank (Joyce) Benz, Loveland, Colo.; sisters, Irene Wilhelm, Circle, Mont., Darlene Weisz, Ankeny, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Ruby Benz, Dunn Center; Peggy Benz, Killdeer; Maureen Benz, Killdeer; Louise Benz, Bismarck, Sandra Benz, Killdeer and a dear friend, Emma Kamka, Bismarck.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Janet; both of his parents, a son, Reuben Benjamin; brothers, Walter, Alvin, Leo, Ernest, Bernie and Henry; sister, Elsie Foster; brothers-in-law, Hilmar Weisz, Walter Pelton and Curtis, Pelton, sisters-in-law, Bonnie Pelton and Leah Benz; son-in-law, Kirk Heupel and a grandson, Anthony Pavlicek.
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Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.stevensonfuneralhome.com .
