He was born July 9, 1931, to John and Lucille (Sanford) Bensend at Turtle Lake. He graduated from Barron High School in 1949. On June 11, 1955, he married Donna Klein at Hillsdale and the couple farmed in the Town of Dallas until retiring in 2002. Since retiring they have operated Donna's Kooler at their home. Don loved kids and was a 4-H leader for many years. He also loved to travel and was the treasurer for the Rice Lake Farmers' Market.
Don was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Arlo Bensend.
He is survived by his wife, Donna, of Dallas; two sons, Andy Bensend, of Dallas, and Steven (Leslie) Bensend, of Prescott; two daughters, Marjorie (Wayne) McDonald, of Centennial, Colo., and Karen (James) Offord, of Arbor Vitae; a daughter-in-law, Janet Bensend, of Hillsdale; 12 grandchildren, Katie, B.J. and Jordan McDonald, Abe (Stephanie), Austin (Shannon) and Anna Bensend, John and Luke Bensend, and Mandie, Abby, Adam and Molly Offord; a brother, Theo (Jan) Bensend, of Hattiesburg, Miss.; three sisters, Kearney (Lester) Thompson, of Dallas, Mary (Cliff) Iverson, of Sunburst, Mont., and Mabel (Elton) Hoff, of Hillsdale; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were Friday from First Baptist Church in Barron with the Rev. Darrel Robinson officiating and interment in Wayside Cemetery in Barron.
Arrangements were with Rausch-Lundeen Funeral Homes, Dallas and Cameron.
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