Benjamin Lystrom, age 92, of Ashby died Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at the Battle Lake Good Samaritan Center.
Benjamin Carleton Lystrom was born April 3, 1920 in Eagle Lake Township, rural Battle Lake, to Carl and Helen (Okerlund) Lystrom. He was baptized and confirmed at the Grue Lutheran Church and attended Rural School District #72 in Eagle Lake Township.
Bennie and Florence Larson were married on November 28, 1940 in the Battle Lake Parsonage. After their marriage they farmed in Eagle Lake Township until 1956 when they moved to Orange County, California. While living in California, Bennie was a welder, a janitor, and then took his training to be a locksmith. In 1976 they returned to the farm in Minnesota, in 1978 moved into Evansville, where Bennie had a locksmith business, and in 2006 moved into Ashby. In April of 2009 they entered the Battle Lake Good Samaritan Center.
Bennie was a member of the Grue Lutheran Church, a former city councilmember in Evansville, and enjoyed having coffee with his friends in Evansville. He was known for his great sense of humor and especially loved to fish.
Bennie is survived by one son, Gary (Patt) Lystrom of Battle Lake; three daughters, Helaine (Wesley) Shaffer of Eldorado Springs, Mo., Brenda Jones of Ashby and Twila Stierlen of Ashby; twelve grandchildren; twenty-five great-grandchildren; seven great-great grandchildren and by numerous relatives and friends.
Bennie was preceded in death by his wife, Florence, March 19, 2012, his parents; one great-grandson, Justin Woldahl; a brother, Rudolph; and two sisters, Esther Palm and Sarah Runningen.
Memorials preferred to Grue Lutheran Church Building Fund.
Funeral Services: 1:00 pm, Monday, April 30, 2012 at Grue Lutheran Church, rural Ashby
Visitation: Sunday 4 to 6 pm with a Prayer Service at 6 pm at the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Ashby and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Clergy: Reverend Carol Olson
Cemetery: Grue Lutheran Church Cemetery
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Ashby
Condolences: www.GlendeNilson.com