Donald Benham

FUNERAL SERVICES : 11:00 A.M. Saturday June 1st, 2013 at Grace Community Church, Osage, MN.VISITATION : 1 hour prior to service at the Grace Community Church.INTERMENT : Riverside Cemetery in Osage, MNSURVIVORS : January 3, 1936May 18, 2013 Donald Byron Benham, age 77 of Park Rapids, MN passed away on May 18, 2013 and is now in the arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Don was born on January 3, 1936 to Byron and Lillian (Meyer) Benham. He attended many grade schools and graduated from the Park Rapids High School in 1954. He was active in sports but loved football. Don joined the National Guard in 1953. He was an avid skier and was a skiing instructor for eight years in the winter operations at Camp Ripley, MN. This led him to be involved in the start of the Norwegian Home Guard Exchange and from there he was an advisor in Norway. He also served two terms in Antarctica. Don retired from the National Guard in 1978 after 25 years of service. He married Mary Jo Harris in 1954. Their union was blessed with 5 daughters: Vicki, Ann, Linda, Sheila and Lisa. Don married Ida (Pritchard) Harsha in 1977. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles and the American Legion. Don will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Ida; his daughters: Vicki (Gary) Reno, Ann (Dur) Trammell, Linda Eskola, Sheila (Bill) Striegel and Lisa (Bill) Givans; 11 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; step-son, Rick Harsha; sister, Geraldine (Richard) Syhorst; numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, Byron and Lillian.