Hazel Benson

Hazel Ann (VonWald) Benson passed into her Lord’s arms on Tuesday, July 9, 2019 at The Gardens at Cannon Falls.

Hazel was born on a family farm in rural Northfield on August 26, 1931 to Vera (Messner) and Louis VonWald. She attended rural school through 8th grade and then attended Northfield High School. On October 21, 1950, she was united in marriage to Martin S. Benson. Together they raised four children. Hazel was a stay at home mother and very busy homemaker until all the children finished high school. She was a great cook and baker and made the very best buns.

Once her children were grown, she worked as a nanny and then for years as a housekeeper for the Cannon Falls Community Hospital, retiring at age 72.

Hazel and Martin loved to travel, and two of her favorite places were Hawaii and Branson, MO. Her faith saw her through the loss of Martin on July 5, 2004 after 53 years of marriage. Always a very loving person, her family was very important to her and this was extended to her parents, aunts, uncles, and many cousins.

Surviving Hazel are her four children, Debra (Stan) Kjarland, Marty (Jean) Benson, Richard Benson, and Susan (Ken) Koenig; nine grandchildren, Jessica Iverson, Alex (Mim) Reinhart, Calli (Dustin) Burgemeister, Abby (Joseph) Kemper, Christine Benson, Marie Koenig-Kerber (Russell Kerber), Jacob (Stephany) Koenig, John Koenig (fiancé, Paige Westrum), and Miranda Koenig (fiancé, David Nierzwicki); eleven great grandchildren; sister, Marlys Roberts; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Martin; brother, Earl VonWald; and sister, Evelyn VonWald.

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 12 from 4-7 p.m. at Lundberg Funeral Home in Cannon Falls. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 13 at 11 a.m., with visitation from 10-11 a.m. at First English Lutheran Church, Cannon Falls.

Memorials are preferred to First English Lutheran Church or to Parkinson’s disease research.

Active pallbearers will be grandchildren, Jessica Iverson, Alex Reinhart, Calli Burgemeister, Abby Kemper, Christine Benson, Marie Koenig-Kerber, Jacob Koenig, John Koenig, and Miranda Koenig, and honorary pallbearers will be great grandchildren, Mariah and Joshua Iverson, Torin and Freya Reinhart, Paiton Hanson, Colton Koenig, Russell Jr., Alex, Aiden, Genevieve, and Eli Kerber.

Inurnment will be held on Sunday, July 21 at 11 a.m. at the Cannon Falls Cemetery.