Wayne “Fish” Benbo

Wayne Benbo, age 74, of Winger, MN, passed away on Sunday, November 23rd, at his home surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 29th, at Faaberg Lutheran Church, Rindal, MN with the Jamie Morvig, SAM officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 6:30 p.m. prayer service on Friday, November 28th, at the Carlin Funeral Home in Fosston. There will also be reviewal for one hour prior to the service on Saturday afternoon at the church. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Fosston and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com. Memorials are preferred to Faaberg Lutheran Church.

Wayne (“Fish”) Dennis Benbo, was born June 12, 1951 to Charles and Bernice Benbo of rural Winger, Minn., and died November 23, 2025 in the care of his family.

The second-oldest of four children, Wayne grew up loving the farm, and spending time outdoors fishing with his brothers and neighbors. After attending Fertile-Beltrami High School, Wayne took to his passion for farming, working for neighbors and then later farming alongside his brother Bruce through the 1970s. In the early 1980s, he spent several years over the road driving truck for Soo Line trucking.

Wayne was a serial inventor and innovator. Whether on the farm or in the barn shop on the home place west of Winger, Wayne had a knack for building practical innovations that were designed to make things easier for people to do important work, whether on the farm, in the garden or while enjoying the outdoors. It was this inventiveness that led to Wayne’s most famous innovation – Fish’s folding blue ice saw. This ice saw came about when Wayne felt there had to be a better way for spear fishermen to cut a large hole in the ice after seeing too many people get wet and messy using chain saws. After months of tinkering and perfecting his design, he went on to sell thousands of ice saws around the world, from the continental U.S., to Canada, to Alaska, numerous European countries, Russia and more. He also spent some time building and selling spears, fish teasers and a few other items that all went to support the enjoyment of the spear fishing community.

While running his saw business, Wayne worked for over 20 years farming for Sonnie Balstad and John Balstad, who he considered as a brother in life. After retiring from farm work in the 2010s, Wayne focused his attention fully on lawn work and gardening. He mowed several cemetery lawns in the area and took great pride in making sure they were cared for in a way that honored those resting there. When he wasn’t on a mower, he was in his garden, growing produce. He found a lot of joy in serving his nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews by providing them with giant pumpkins every year and loved selling his produce at the local farmer’s markets or having people stop by to see the garden, pick their own produce and visit. Always one to strike up a conversation, he loved frequenting businesses in the area and keeping up with them on the latest news and happenings, and always enjoyed visits from his good friend Milo Ystenes.

Wayne was loved by many friends and his family. He is survived by his sister Annette (LeRoy) Halstad, his sister-in-law Gwen (Bruce) Benbo, his ten nieces and nephews, Travis and Lance (Amanda) Kryzaniak and Brandon (Robynn) Halstad, Heather (Travis) Nikolayson, Amanda (Shaun) Ryan, Theresa Benbo, Ryan (Heidi) Benbo, Caleb (Jenny Hubbard) Benbo, Anna (Mike) Owens and Rachel (Cody Berg) Benbo, and numerous great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Bernice and his brothers Bruce Benbo and Les Benbo.