Patty Benson

Patty Benson, 89, Fargo, ND, died on Monday, October 11, 2010, in Sanford Health, Fargo, ND.Patricia Lorraine Durbahn was born February 3, 1921, in San Antonio, TX, to Wilbert and Frieda Johnson Durbahn. She was baptized in the Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, Methodist church and raised on the family farm near Angus, MN. After finishing at the Northwest School of Agriculture, she graduated from Minnesota School of Business and then attended Moorhead State College. She married Arvid Benson on August 25, 1940, in Angus, MN, and they made their home in Moorhead, where they raised three children, Cheryl Lynne, Michael David and Kimberly Kay. She continued her education, being probably the only married student as the war had started. In 1949 the Bensons bought the Northwestern Hatchery that later became Arvid Benson Home Furnishings. When Arvid started investing in real estate in Moorhead and other states, she supervised the office and accounting. They were both very active in their church and the community. Christian education was extremely important to both of them. They supported several Christian schools but were especially active at Oak Grove Lutheran School where all of their children graduated. Both daughters graduated from Concordia College. Michael attended Concordia but finished his degree at Moorhead State. Patty was a patroness for the Sigma Alpha Iota Music Sorority and leader of twelve girls in Camp Fire for many years. They were very active charter members of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd where she sang in the choir, taught confirmation classes and Sunday School, served on the Altar Guild and Women's groups. She was very interested in art and music, belonging to Art Museums in the area and purchasing original paintings for their home. For twenty years she was a soloist at many churches, funerals and weddings. Her faith in Jesus was of utmost importance to her. She faithfully attended Bible Study Fellowship for many years and continued to study at home and in church. Arvid died on September 13, 2001 and she continued to manage the 301 apartment complex the family owned in Baton Rouge, LA for four more years until she sold it.She is survived by her children, Cheryl Running, St. Cloud, MN, Michael Roxie Benson, Moorhead, MN, Kimberly Steven Zimmerman, Fargo, ND; six grandchildren, Sara Paul Danger, Maren Timothy Coltvet, Brian Benson, Jason Nicole Benson, Isaac Zimmerman, Heather Zimmerman; five great-grandchildren, Linnea and Anders Coltvet, Maia and Ingrid Danger and Katelyn Benson; one brother Roger Lucinda Durbahn, St. Paul, MN; two sisters, Beverly Thomas Tallant, Spooner, WI and Kay Ray Johnson, Minnetonka, MN; and sisters-in-law, Mary Harry Hiebert, Lake Havasu, AZ, Ruth Ron Berge, Dazey, ND, and Peggie Durbahn, St. Paul, MN She was preceded in death by her husband Arvid, a brother Dell, and a son-in-law Thorpe Running.