Ethel Benshoof

Ethel Benshoof, age 99, of Ortonville, MN, passed away on August 9, 2020, at Fairway View Neighborhoods in Ortonville, MN.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ortonville, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church. Pastor Dennis O’Neill will officiate, and burial will take place at Mound Cemetery.

While maintaining social distancing guidelines, we are now able to accommodate gatherings of up to 250 people. The use of face masks by attendees is required, and we will continue taking the necessary steps to keep our facility clean.

Ethel put a lot of thought into her own obituary. This is her story as told in her own words:

Ethel Lydia (Bucholz) Benshoof was born May 28, 1921 in Lac Qui Parle County, MN to William Otto Bucholz and Lydia Louise (Grube) Bucholz. Ethel was the oldest of their 11 children.

Ethel was baptized at the Yellow Bank Lutheran Church and confirmed at St. Peter’s Church in Bellingham, MN.

Ethel attended grade school through 8th grade in country school house Dist. #20. Ethel graduated High School from Bellingham High School in MN.

As a young girl Ethel worked for neighbor ladies by helping with their children and housework. Ethel worked for her Uncle Henry Buholz in his Income Tax Office and also at Big Stone Canning Company during the fall corn run, before and after her marriage to Howard.

Ethel met Howard Benshoof and they started courting but, World War II broke out. Before Howard was drafted, they became engaged and continued a 3 year courtship, through letters they exchanged until Howard was honorably discharged. They were married June 5, 1946, at her parents’ farm home in Odessa, MN. Ethel and Howard were married 54 years, when Howard passed away in 2000. Five children were born into this marriage; Wayne Allen, Rita Rose, Lynn (stillborn), Joel Howard and Lori Jean. Ethel helped her husband, Howard with the bookkeeping in their family business, “Howard’s Mobil”, gas and service station.

After the children were in school, Ethel went to work for Rensberger Electric, and Rausch Brothers Granite, while continuing to do the bookkeeping for their gas station.

Ethel was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Ortonville, MN where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She was a member of the Women of Trinity, and a member of Anna Circle where she served as Secretary/Treasurer for a while. She was an Honorary Member of Anna Circle at the time of her death. Ethel was a member of the Senior Citizen Club of Ortonville where she served as Secretary for some time. Ethel volunteered at Northridge and helped out with the Girl Scouts in Ortonville, MN.

Through her own illnesses, the illnesses and deaths of her three sons and beloved husband, Ethel put it all at her Lord’s feet and kept her faith strong through all the tough parts of her life. She instilled this faith in the hearts and minds of her family.

Among Ethel’s greatest delights have been her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed camping in a tent, pop up camper and a small trailer home with Howard in their senior years. She enjoyed gardening, taking care of her many flowers, mowing the yard, putting bicycle chains back on, canning fruits and vegetables, making jellies and jams, pies, cakes, cookies, and bars. Every Saturday morning the family woke up to the smell of fresh bread, buns, caramel and cinnamon rolls. She loved to sew and crochet and made her children clothes and crocheted many pairs of slippers.

The last several years she and her sisters would get together and call it a “Sisters’ Day”. Easy Crosswords, Word Finds, reading, phone calls, visits from family and friends and playing Wheel of Fortune over the phone with Rita was her daily routine.

Ethel is preceded in death by her Parents, Husband Howard, Sons Lynn (stillborn), Joel and Wayne; Brothers Willard (Korean War Victim) and Sidney; Sisters Lois Gloege, Janice Johnson, Jorgine Boogaard and Darlene Blocker; Brothers-in-law Ned Gloege, Conley Cronen, Arthur Radtke; Sister-in-law DeAnne Bucholz.

Ethel is survived by her 2 Daughters Rita Grim, Ortonville; and Lori (Steve) Koenen, Hutchinson; 4 Grandsons Shawn (Jesse) Grim, Rochester, Brandon Grim, Rochester, Billy Johnson, Hutchinson, Mitchell (fiancé, Brook) Johnson, New London; 7 Great-grandchildren Maggie, Tyler, Levi and Hunter Grim and Damian, Donavan and Dominick Johnson; 1 Brother Roger (Rose) Bucholz, Hermosa, SD; 3 Sisters Shirley (Arlo) Christians, Twin Brooks, SD, Judith Radtke, Milbank, SD and Faye (Wallace) Runge, Milbank, SD and 1 Brother-in-law Francis Boogaard, Watertown, SD; several cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and church family.