Robert "Bob" Ray Benson
July 31, 1935 — October 4, 2013
Robert "Bob" Ray Benson passed away Friday, October 4, 2013, at the age of 78.
Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, October 9, 2013, at North Highland United Methodist Church, 620 15th Avenue NE, Aberdeen with Pastor Lou Whitmer and Bob's brother-in-law, Reverend Cary VanKampen, officiating.
Burial, with Military Graveside Rites, will take place at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, at Oakland Cemetery, in Seneca, SD.
Schriver's Memorial Mortuary & Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.
Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, at the mortuary, and one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the church.
Bob Benson was born on July 31, 1935, to Leon and Bertha (Kern) Benson, just outside of Seneca, SD. He spent his first years there before moving to Aberdeen with his mother and older brother, Jim. Bob graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1953 and was a proud member of the Class of '53 Reunion Committee for many years.
After graduation, Bob joined the United States Navy and served on the U.S.S. Knudson while it was testing nuclear explosives on the Bikini Atoll. Following his honorable discharge, Bob became a journeyman printer at the U.S. Printing Office in Baltimore. During this time, he married Karon Hubbard and they started a family.
In 1970, Bob and Karon moved the family back to Aberdeen, where he worked for, and then purchased Ralph's Bear Service. He ran the shop and also a Dixon mower dealership until 2012.
Bob loved his family; his church, North Highland United Methodist; and his cat. He was an avid hunter and trapshooter and was a lifetime member of The Aberdeen Gun Club. He also loved tinkering with his old John Deere tractors.
In addition to his many, many friends, Bob leaves behind three children, Kandi Jo (Brad) Nelson of Woodbury, MN, Rob (Kim) Benson of Oskaloosa, IA and Kari Lynn Benson of Aberdeen; as well as six adoring grandchildren: Madeline Nelson, Bailie Benson, Dan and Devin Severson, and Dillon and Tessa Gustafson.
He was preceded in death by his mother, father, stepfather, brother, and wife, Karon.