Albert Benke

Albert “Al” George Benke, age 92, of Perham , MN , died Tuesday, October 13, 2009 , in the Perham Memorial Hospital .


Al was born February 22, 1917 , in Deer Creek Township , MN , the son of Matt and Lydia (Hyrynkangas) Asmund. He was the youngest of eight children. After his mother’s death in 1918, Al grew up in the home of Herman and August Benke in Dent. On September 9, 1939 , he was united in marriage to Golda Volkmann in St. John’s Church , Dora Township , MN. Al graduated from Concordia Academy in St. Paul , MN , before beginning farming in the Dent area. He owned and operated Al’s Heating and Air Conditioning for twenty-six years.



Al is survived by his wife of 70 years, Golda Benke, Perham, MN; three children, Virginia (Neil) Mulari, Glyndon, MN; Gary (Karen) Benke, Dent, MN; and Lynnette (Ken) Krekelberg, Maplewood, MN; eleven grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren; two great great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.



In lieu of flowers the family wishes memorials be made to the Bethesda Children’s Home, Concordia Tuition Fund, the Lutheran Hour or the charity of your choice.