Benora Deming, 83

Benora (Benny) Elaine Deming, 83, of Glenwood, MN, formerly of Alexandria, MN, passed away peacefully on January 8, 2016, at Glacial Ridge Hospital in Glenwood, surrounded by her loving family. Funeral arrangements pending for June. Online condolences may be placed at www.andersonfuneral.net. The Anderson Funeral Home, Alexandria, is caring for the family.

Benora Elaine Deming was born on April 22, 1932, in Windom, Minnesota, the 10th of 12 children born to John O. and Anna Matilde (Vangen) Sogge. She was baptized at Hauge Lutheran Church near Bergen, MN, and confirmed in the Christian faith at Windom Lutheran Church in Windom, MN.

Benny grew up on the family farm near Bingham Lake and loved everything about farm living, especially spending time outdoors. She was an active member of 4-H where she enjoyed not only working with animals and raising and showing prize sheep but also in designing and creating award winning gardens. She attended country school through the seventh grade and then attended high school in Windom. During her teen years she enjoyed working as a sales clerk at Lady Lee’s Dress Shop and as a popcorn girl at the Hollywood Theatre.

Benny married Orville (Andy) Anderson on September 14, 1948; the couple made their home in Windom along with their three children: Michael Allan, Randall Jon, and Barbara Jo.

On February 21, 1959, Benny married the love of her life Robert Deming and became a loving mother to Bob’s three children: Terry Leigh, Allan Scott, and Lane Robert. The blended family made their home in Tracy, and welcomed daughter Katherine Joann in 1960.

In addition to being a caring and faithful wife and mother, Benny shared her many talents outside the home, working first alongside her husband as a bookkeeper for the family business, and then as a nursing and medication assistant at the Tracy Nursing Home as well as the Osakis Nursing Home when the couple moved to the lakes area after Bob’s retirement in 1989. She continued working in healthcare until her diagnosis of early stage emphysema in 1997. Benny didn’t allow her illness to limit her Life-giving essence. She soon found herself as a student at a local community college where she developed a strong set of computer skills, which helped her secure further employment. She then worked from her home for a Minneapolis-based service company, conducting phone interviews with a wide range of people all across the globe. Benny’s deteriorating health finally forced her into full retirement in 2005 at the age of 73.

Benny’s first love was always sharing precious time with her family, grandchildren, friends and her many precious work acquaintances she made throughout her life. She enjoyed watching movies; playing games, especially cards, where anyone who had the opportunity to play with her quickly noted her skillfulness; preparing and enjoying holiday celebrations and meals – especially her potato salad, fried chicken, oyster stew, and famous Christmas sugar cookies. She was gifted in her many forms of needle work to which many of us hold precious keepsakes of crocheting, embroidery, and quilting. She also loved tending to her gardens and flowers; reading biographies and a good mystery; Bible study; and listening so very attentively to Christian speakers on the computer in her later years when she was physically unable to attend church.

Anyone graced to be near Benny always left her presence feeling uplifted and more alive. She was a Life-giving spirit with her loving and warm heart, keen wisdom and wit, amazing patience, grace, and humility, and her sincere gift of making every soul that encountered hers feel so intimately special.

She will be lovingly remembered by her sons Michael Anderson of Garfield, MN,  Randy Anderson of Green Bay, WI, Allan (Diane) Deming of Tracy, MN, and Lane (Frieda White) Deming of Colrain, NC; daughters Terry (Larry Marquette) of Little Falls, MN, Barb (Conrad) Rasmussen of Garvin, MN, and Katherine (Marvin) Hoffman of Glenwood, MN; 19 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and 6 great great-grandchildren; brother John (Lois) Sogge of Augusta, GA; and sister Carol Harder of Mt. Lake, MN; Goddaughter, Diana Ahl of Clearwater, MN; many nieces and nephews; and many friends.

She is now reunited with her husband, Bob, of 56 years; her parents, John and Anna; brothers, Osmund (Oz), infant Gerhart, Gerhart (Gay), Ansel (Jerry), Glen, Harlan (Toby); sisters, Marion Ford, Birdell (Bert) Chewning, and Laura Rutherford; and daughter-in-law, Sally Anderson.

Pat Johnson, 81

Born July 31, 1934, in Tracy, Minnesota, Pat was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church.  Growing up, she was good at memory games and enjoyed paper dolls with her girlfriends.  She joined the family on picnics and took trips to area lakes and enjoyed fishing.  Pat was a good student who enjoyed playing the violin in the orchestra and flute in the marching band.  A member of the Tracy High School National Honor Society, Pat was elected homecoming queen and honored with a crown made of wire and tinfoil!

After graduating in 1952, Pat and a girlfriend took off for Minneapolis.  She enjoyed her time there, but soon returned to Tracy to marry her childhood friend, Robert Johnson, then in the Navy.  They moved to Key West where their first son, Ben, was born.  After his discharge, Pat and Bob returned to Tracy, to begin a career in insurance and their next three children, Kermit, Dan and Brenda, were born. Bob and his twin brother, Dick, began to make plans to move their families to Alaska. Once on the frontier, Pat proceeded to make a home for her young family while making do without running water or electricity for a while. Their fifth child, Jill, was born in Alaska and the following year, 1964, the family followed Bob to a new position in Boise, Idaho.  The family continued to enjoy the outdoors, camping, hunting and fishing the Idaho wilderness and tending a family garden. Their youngest child, Carrie Lynn, was born in 1967. Pat was left-handed and found it interesting that every other child of hers was left-handed too! She was kept very busy caring for her family and helping them with their schoolwork and other needs. 

Her life changed quite suddenly when, in 1968, Bob’s twin brother, Dick, who had joined them in Boise with his family, passed away. Soon after, the family tragically lost 2-year-old Carrie Lynn. Pat worked for many years as a printer with the Boise School District, where she earned the respect and appreciation of all who worked with her. Pat and Bob were blessed with eleven grandchildren. Sadly, Bob passed away in 2001 and her son Dan passed away in 2004.  Again, it was Pat’s strength of heart that maintained a center for her family by continuing to meet family obligations with faith, determination, and a willingness to find the joy in life. Pat made special efforts to make a difference for every member of her family. She kept the bonds between family members and long-time family friends intact. Her life-long love of children everywhere could be seen in the way she supported orphanages and other charities that benefited young people as well as doing her best to directly support the children in her community.  She enjoyed crafting and collecting cookbooks, and figurines, and loved to spend hours over coffee with her friends.  Her sense of humor and outlook on life was a source of merriment and made a person glad to be around her.  She continued to enjoy picnics, get-togethers, and celebrations and was part of a weekly bridge group for years. Christmases were always held at her home, which were the center of activity for the family and a joyous time for all.

Pat leaves behind her brother, Richard Olson & wife, Artis of Granite Falls, MN; son Ben & wife, Lynette; son, Kermit & wife, Sarah; daughter, Brenda & husband Rod Jensen; and daughter, Jill. She was blessed with 13 grandchildren, Audrey & husband Mark Mansfield (Boise); Oliver (Boise); Robert & wife Amy (Boise); Travis & wife Paulette (Troy, ID); Kassi & husband Danny Chadwick (Caldwell, ID); Michael Redman (Yuma, AZ), Hanah Redman (Yuma, AZ); Nicole & husband Jon Grzeskowiak (Prior Lake, MN); Tucker Swafford (Boise); Gabriel & wife Jen (Boise); Bailey & Fiance Matt (Boise), and Ivy Rose (Boise) and 13 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Kermit and Ruth Olson; her husband of 48 years, Bob; daughter, Carrie Lynn; son, Daniel and grand-daughter, Carrie Lynn. She will be deeply missed by family and friends.