Owen Bensen

Owen Bensen, 70, of Audubon, MN formerly of the Horace and West Fargo areas, died Friday, March 9, 2018, at the Veterans Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN where he was receiving treatment for Leukemia.  He passed away peacefully under hospice care, surrounded by several loving family, 14 years to the day of his mother’s death.

Owen Leslie Bensen was born March 22, 1947, at Fargo, ND, the fourth of six children of Osmund L. and Ethel E. (Evenson) Bensen of Horace, ND.  He was baptized in St. Johns Lutheran Church near Horace, that was relocated to Bonanzaville U.S.A.  Owen was confirmed in the Horace Lutheran Church, grew up on the Warren Township family farm, attended elementary school in Horace and graduated from West Fargo High School in 1965.  He worked at the West Fargo Truck Stop until entering the U.S. Army in 1967.  Owen’s training was at Fort Carson, Colorado and then served in Germany.  Upon discharge, he found employment and worked for 3 years at Coca Cola Co. in Moorhead.

Owen worked many years in construction from taping, finishing and painting drywall in the three state area in addition to Colorado, Arizona, Idaho and Hawaii to overseeing modular construction of public buildings in Barrow & Kotzebue, AK.

As much as Owen worked around the country, he always wanted to be home for Christmas and be with his family and many friends.  He was a “Man About Town” who enjoyed the freedom of being single.  When asking his friends if he was the “Life of the Party”, they would respond  “He was the Party”!  Owen was a good and generous man who cared about everyone and enjoyed the company of many friends.

Facing serious back injuries in Alaska, he returned to the Cormorant Lake community and pursued back surgeries, both in Fargo and Rochester, MN, that left him disabled and unable to continue his occupation.

When he was recovering at the Lake, Owen finally met the girl that stole his heart, Jamie Phillips, who has been his constant companion. He loved to entertain surrounded by friends and family.  Owen also collected old cars, attended car shows, and liked to talk shop.

He is survived by the love of his life: Jamie Phillips of Pelican Rapids, MN; a sister:  Melody (Bill) Parkhouse of West Fargo,  3 brothers:  Robert (Marilyn) Bensen of Horace, ND,  Gary (Leanna) Bensen of Bothell, WA and Carlton (Karen) Bensen of Fargo; an aunt: Muriel Evenson of Fargo;  3 nephews:  Sean, Shane and Ryan;  five nieces:  Terry, Tiffany, Tonya, Paulann and Tracy.  Also surviving are 6 great-nephews:  David, Tyler, Evan, Nicholas, Ashton and Noah;  5 great-nieces:  Haley, Lexie, Makenzie, Apryl, and  Bianca; along with many cousins and friends.

Owen was preceded in death by his parents; step-father:  Orville Brenden, a brother:  Dean Bensen and a special uncle:  Melford Brateng.

Fellowship and lunch at the West Fargo VFW  immediately follow the service.

Visitation 5 to 7 pm Thursday, March 15, 2017, followed by a 7 pm Prayer Service at the West Funeral Home in West Fargo.

Funeral service 11 a.m. Friday, March 16, at Faith Lutheran Church in West Fargo.

Burial later this spring in St. John Lutheran Cemetery, near Horace, ND

Military Rites  Arthur W. Jones  VFW Post #7564 of West Fargo

West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center

westfuneralhome.com

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