Name: Visitation for Brian Bensen
Start: 2017-01-07T22:00:00.000Z
End: 2017-01-08T01:00:00.000Z
Location: Benson Funeral Home - Saint Cloud

Brian J. Bensen, 66

St. Cloud

June 24, 1950 - January 1, 2017

Brian John Bensen, age 66, St. Cloud, MN, died Sunday, January 1, 2017 at St. Benedict's Senior Community, St. Cloud, MN.

Funeral services will be Sunday, January 8, 2017 at 3:00 PM at Benson Funeral Home Chapel, St. Cloud, MN. Visitation will be Saturday, January 7, 2017 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Benson Funeral Home, St. Cloud, MN and one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Sunday. Burial will be in North Star Cemetery, St. Cloud, MN.

Brian was born June 24, 1950 in St. Cloud, MN to John H. and Helen I. (Cater) Bensen. He was a 1968 graduate of St. Cloud Technical High School and received degrees from University of Nebraska, Lincoln and St. Cloud State University. Brian married Jan Erickson on May 27, 1972 in St. Cloud, MN. Brian was employed by St. Cloud School District 742 for 4 years and then worked for Sherburne County from 1978 until his retirement in 2014. During his tenure with Sherburne County he worked as an environmental inspector, building inspector, zoning administrator, personnel manager and county administrator. Brian was a member of First United Methodist Church, Kiwanis, St. Cloud Tech Alumni Board, Minnesota Association of Counties, and served on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Citizens Board for 14 years. He enjoyed wine making, hunting and canoeing (with a trip to the Boundary Waters almost every year since the age of 14).

Survivors include his wife, Jan Bensen of St. Cloud, MN; sons, Patrick (Diana) Bensen of Blaine, MN; Andrew Bensen of Freiburg, Germany; daughter, Katherine "Katie" (Nathan Uecker) Bensen of Bloomington, MN; sisters, Mary (Romulo) Mendez of Cadiz, KY; Jane (Loren) Bensen Turner of Clearbrook, MN; and grandson, Hunter.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by St. Cloud Times on Jan. 4, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Brian Bensen

Sponsored by Benson Funeral Home - Saint Cloud.

12 Entries

Peace

Jim Brown

January 13, 2017

I am very sad to hear this news as I found out today and Brian was a great person and one of the best people I've ever known.

Brian did a lot for others and I am so thnkful to have been his friend . My prayers go out to his family.

Renae Zachman

January 13, 2017

Jan, Pat, Andy, Katie,
So sorry to hear that Brian had passed away. Jenni, Eric, Michelle, and I were remembering many of the fun times the kids had together when they were in school at Clearview, South, and Tech. Our prayers go out to all of you.

January 8, 2017

Dear Jan and family,
We just found out that Brian had passed away. We are both saddened and so sorry.
Our sympathies are with you all.
Carol and John Engel

Beverley Williams

January 7, 2017

I was so sorry to hear of Brian's death. Thinking of all of you.

Douglas Wild

January 7, 2017

I had the great pleasure of working with Brian during his time at Sherburne County. He was a calming and wise presence, navigating the daily - and the challenging - issues with a thoughtful and caring manner. Condolences from my family to yours .

Bonnie & Steve Olmanson

January 7, 2017

Jan and family, so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all!

Heidi Herron

January 5, 2017

Dear Jan and Family:
So sorry to hear of the passing of Brian. He was always a pleasant man. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Our deepest sympathies...

Mark Brand

January 4, 2017

Dear Jan and family,

We are saddened to hear of Brian's death. Our sympathies and prayers are with you.

There are so many good things to say about Brian that most who knew him would have to just pick a place and start. So I'll share a couple of memories from the early days when, as a lowly sophomore in high school, I got to know Brian as a Tech senior and classmate friend of my sister, Steph.

Brian Bensen, role model: As student body president, starting guard on the football team, concert choir stalwart and, of course, a very smart guy Brian was a leader and easy to look up to. He was in the middle of everything. And just when you thought he might be too intense or imposing Brian would laugh to let you know that, yes, what he had going was a pretty big deal, but it was really all fun. Which made sense because he was dating Jan, which made him even more impressive.

"The Beej," hard worker and carouser. The summer after his freshman year in college I worked on a construction crew with Brian and his Tech classmates Eric Henning, Erik Langsjoen and Denny Johnson. In addition to slinging wet concrete, they had to make sure all of the projects were measured and done right. Brian was a patient teacher for a crew novice like me. And nobody partied like Brian when the work day was over. But he always managed to get up early the next morning and get the job done. His sidewalks were straight and level.

The Brian Bensen I knew was a unique package of skill, persistence, diplomacy, wisdom and kindness.

Rest in peace, Beej.

George Rindelaub

January 4, 2017

Jan and family-Knowing Brian made us all better people. I will miss his wise, kind, and thoughtful counsel. Our community is a better place today because of Brian's great leadership. His legacy will live on in all of us. Rest in peace my friend.

Chuck Dopp '68

January 4, 2017

Dear Jan and the Bensen Family,

I graduated from Tech in 1968 and was a classmate of Brian's. Although we weren't friends and I haven't seen him since the day we graduated, I remember him well. That is the kind of impression he made on me and others.

Brian was one of the top leaders of our class and served in student government since junior high school. While in high school he could speak well in public at assemblies and always came across to me as calm, cool and collected. I thought he was a good man.

I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you.

Mark Cater

January 4, 2017

Even though he was only 6 years older he was always "Uncle Brian" and one of my favorites whenever we ventured to St. Cloud to visit family. Always ready and willing to play with the little kids and had a story to tell - much like his dad Jack. At his wedding to Jan I remember thinking "what a lucky guy!" He was that in many ways, but the end came too soon. Rest in peace, Brian, knowing you had a positive impact on many people.

Luci Botzek

January 3, 2017

Jan and family - Brian left a lasting impression on anyone who met him. He truly made a difference in the short time he was on this earth. A kind and gentle soul. Rest in peace dear friend.

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