Ivan S. Behnken

The funeral service for Ivan S. Behnken were held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18th, at Christ Our Rock Lutheran Church, 3040 Stonehedge Drive NE in Rochester with Pastor Jacob Behnken and Pastor Jeff Limpert co-officiating.  Burial will be in Little Valley Cemetery in rural Plainview, with Military Rites by the Elgin American Legion.

Mr. Behnken, 85, of Rochester, passed away late Friday evening, March 13, 2015 at Mayo Clinic Hospital – Rochester, Saint Marys Campus.

Ivan Stewart Behnken was born in Rochester on August 18, 1929 to Lewis and Ella (Schroeder) Behnken.  He attended school in Elgin.  He served in the US Air Force from October 10, 1947 to October 9, 1951 in the 8th Air Force – 97th Bomber Wing.  Ivan obtained the rank of Staff Sargent 8th Air Force SAC.  He married Iona Wilker on March 22, 1952 in New Hampton, IA and was later divorced.  On July 7, 1984 he married Sonja Nelson in Mondovi, WI.

Following his military service to his country, Ivan returned to rural Rochester and lived and farmed there until 1978, when he moved to Ettrick, WI where he lived and farmed until 1990.  Ivan then moved to Brookings, SD for three years, and then returned to Rochester and went to work for McNeilius/Oshkosh Truck Company for 13 years until he retired.

Ivan was a founding member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Rochester, and currently a member of Christ Our Rock Lutheran Church.  He was also a member of the Elgin American Legion.  Ivan was a man of strong faith, a great storyteller, and had a great sense of humor.

Ivan is survived by his loving wife, Sonja Behnken of Rochester; three daughters, Linda (Darren) Hinze of Henderson NV, LeAnn (Ronald) Garrett of Phillips Ranch, CA; and Lisa (William) Kuisle of Rochester; one son, James (Susan) Behnken of Brookings, SD; three step-sons, Timothy (Pam) Hoff of Milwaukee, WI, Daniel Hoff of Greenfield, WI, and Jerry (Tonya) Chandler of West Salem, WI; 12 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren; and a brother-in-law, Ted (Jan) Nelson of Holmen, WI.  He was preceded in death by his parents, 4 brothers, Elsworth and his wife Helen, Marvin, Donald and his wife Lucille, and Marlow and his wife Dorothy, and sister-in-law, Edna Grothem.

Friends and family visited from 10:00 a.m. until time of service on Wednesday at the church.

Memorials are preferred to Christ Our Rock Lutheran Church.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Schleicher Funeral Homes, Plainview Chapel, 10 E Broadway, PO Box 608, Plainview, MN 55964 507-534-2353.  Guest register may be signed on line at www.schleicherfuneralhomes.com