March 15, 1913-Oct. 6, 2010
SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa - Services for Ervin Benck, 97, of Spirit Lake, Iowa, formerly of Canby, will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Canby. Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m. Sunday at Birk Funeral Home in Canby with a prayer service at 4:30 p.m. Visitation will continue on Monday one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in the Canby City Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to Our Saviour's Lutheran Church or donor's choice.
He died Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010, at Lake Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake, Iowa.
Ervin George Martin Benck was born March 15, 1913, in Fortier Township, Yellow Medicine County, to Frederick August John Benck and Ida Sophie Lena Rohde. Ervin grew up on the family farm southwest of Canby, attended Yellow Medicine Country School District 48. He farmed the family farm with his brother Carl for many years, and run a thrashing crew, thrashing for many area farmers. He also cared for his invalid mother while farming. In 1935, he started farming for himself. On April 24, 1940, he married Mildred Etta Evans at her parents' home in Manford Township, Lac qui Parle County; she died Aug. 17, 1999. They made their home on a farm next to the Benck family farm. He built their home and farm buildings and continued to farm until he lost his eyesight and after regaining his sight they sold their farm to his brother Carl and moved to Marietta in 1946. Ervin sold Fuller Brush Products and worked for the Baker Wholesale House-Lily Mills for a few years and then started his own Shoe Repair and Canvas Business in Marietta moving it to Canby in June of 1953. He and Mildred worked together expanding their business to include zipper repair, upholstery, and selling Ariens Garden Equipment, she also did alterations. Ervin retired in 1984 and continued to putter with fixing garden equipment and inventing all kinds of little gadgets to help him care for his yard and home. In 2004 he moved to Spirit Lake, Iowa.
Ervin was a member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Canby; he served his church faithfully as a Trustee, ran the sound system for many years, and was a caretaker of the church cemeteries for many years. He played horseshoe for over 20 years with the Canby League and also filled in for the Porter League and other area Leagues when they were short of players. He also played in many State Tournaments. In his younger years he played an accordion with his nephews and friends for house parties, as well as at many family gatherings, he also did a lot of woodworking. Ervin enjoyed working in his yard, and loved to tinker making about anything he needed for tools to do his work to make fun little gadgets. He enjoyed taking his family on vacations to many different parts of the country and to Canada. He loved to play cards, carom, bingo, working jigsaw puzzles, and spending many hours doing word search puzzles.
Survivors include his two daughters, Kathleen "Kathi" (and Albert) Berg of Superior, Iowa, and Wanda (and Paul) Myers of Lake City; two granddaughters, Julia Berg of Hastings, Neb., and Heidi Myers of Springfield.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, grandson Ervin Berg and infant grandson, Curtiss Myers; three brothers, Martin, Arthur, and Carl; three sisters, Lizzie Melby Field, Amanda Schmidt Sievert, and Hazel Schmidt.
Blessed be his memory.
