Lionel Conrad Bening

Lionel Conrad Bening, Jr. passed away on January 22, 2026, at age 86. He was born in Winona, MN, and lived in Minnesota until 1989, when he relocated to Plano, TX.

He graduated from Winona Cotter High School in 1957 and the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities in 1962, nominated to Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu. He automated computer design and verification processes for more than 43 years, 27 of those with Control Data Corporation, six years with Convex Computer Corporation and 10 years with Hewlett-Packard.

He met his wife Donna while at the University of Minnesota in 1961. After marrying, they raised two daughters, Ann and Laura.

He served as Adjunct Lecturer on computer design timing and logic verification topics for the University of Minnesota Computer Science Department. He attended the annual Design Automation Conference (DAC) and regularly wrote papers about computer design verification techniques for trade journals and presented at conferences such as DAC. He received Control Data Technical Excellence awards for Logic, Timing, and Verification Techniques. He earned a Best Paper award at the International Hardware Description Language (HDL) Conference in 1999 and was awarded two patents, for repeatable power-on design in 2000 and for automated design replication techniques in 2002. He co-authored a book, “Principles of Verifiable RTL Design,” first published in 2000 and released in a second edition in 2001.

He enjoyed 44 years of sailing with the Calhoun Yacht Club in Minneapolis, winning numerous races and serving as Commodore. Well into his 60s, he participated in pick-up touch football games.

After moving to Texas, he joined the Townsmen barbershop chorus and later sang with Men of Note. He also sang in the church choir at Plano’s Community Unitarian Universalist Church.

He researched genealogy and appreciated sharing stories of family history, while supporting the Winona County Historical Society and Winona Polish Museum.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Donna Bening; daughters Ann (Terry) Totemeier and Laura (Michael) Van Zeyl; grandson Braden Van Zeyl; and sister Dorothy Abts. He was preceded in death by siblings, Robert, Elizabeth, and Phyllis.

A Celebration of Life is being planned for March 21, 2026, at 1:30pm with a reception to follow at Community Unitarian Universalist Church (2875 E. Parker Road, Plano, TX). The family would also like to express appreciation for caregivers at Grand Brook and Anchor of Hope Hospice. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Community Unitarian Universalist Church of Plano, TX (www.communityuuchurch.org).