Benora Deming

Benora (Benny) Elaine Deming, 83, of Glenwood, MN, formerly of Alexandria, MN, passed away peacefully on January 8, 2016, at Glacial Ridge Hospital in Glenwood, surrounded by her loving family. A memorial service will take place at Glenwood Lakeside, Glenwood, MN, on Sunday, June 26, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. Burial for both Benny and her husband Robert (Bob) Deming will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Osakis, MN. Online condolences may be placed at www.andersonfuneral.net. The Anderson Funeral Home, Alexandria, is caring for the family.

Benora Elaine Deming was born on April 22, 1932, in Windom, Minnesota, the 10th of 12 children born to John O. and Anna Matilde (Vangen) Sogge. She was baptized at Hauge Lutheran Church near Bergen, MN, and confirmed in the Christian faith at Windom Lutheran Church in Windom, MN.

Benny grew up on the family farm near Bingham Lake and loved everything about farm living, especially spending time outdoors. She was an active member of 4-H where she enjoyed not only working with animals and raising and showing prize sheep but also in designing and creating award winning gardens. She attended country school through the seventh grade and then attended high school in Windom. During her teen years she enjoyed working as a sales clerk at Lady Lee's Dress Shop and as a popcorn girl at the Hollywood Theatre.

Benny married Orville (Andy) Anderson on September 14, 1948; the couple made their home in Windom along with their three children: Michael Allan, Randall Jon, and Barbara Jo.

On February 21, 1959, Benny married the love of her life Robert Deming and became a loving mother to Bob's three children: Terry Leigh, Allan Scott, and Lane Robert. The blended family made their home in Tracy, and welcomed daughter Katherine Joann in 1960.

In addition to being a caring and faithful wife and mother, Benny shared her many talents outside the home, working first alongside her husband as a bookkeeper for the family business, and then as a nursing and medication assistant at the Tracy Nursing Home as well as the Osakis Nursing Home when the couple moved to the lakes area after Bob's retirement in 1989. She continued working in healthcare until her diagnosis of early stage emphysema in 1997. Benny didn't allow her illness to limit her Life-giving essence. She soon found herself as a student at a local community college where she developed a strong set of computer skills, which helped her secure further employment. She then worked from her home for a Minneapolis-based service company, conducting phone interviews with a wide range of people all across the globe. Benny's deteriorating health finally forced her into full retirement in 2005 at the age of 73.

Benny's first love was always sharing precious time with her family, grandchildren, friends and her many precious work acquaintances she made throughout her life. She enjoyed watching movies; playing games, especially cards, where anyone who had the opportunity to play with her quickly noted her skillfulness; preparing and enjoying holiday celebrations and meals – especially her potato salad, fried chicken, oyster stew, and famous Christmas sugar cookies. She was gifted in her many forms of needle work to which many of us hold precious keepsakes of crocheting, embroidery, and quilting. She also loved tending to her gardens and flowers; reading biographies and a good mystery; Bible study; and listening so very attentively to Christian speakers on the computer in her later years when she was physically unable to attend church.

Anyone graced to be near Benny always left her presence feeling uplifted and more alive. She was a Life-giving spirit with her loving and warm heart, keen wisdom and wit, amazing patience, grace, and humility, and her sincere gift of making every soul that encountered hers feel so intimately special.

She will be lovingly remembered by her sons Michael Anderson of Garfield, MN, Randy Anderson of Green Bay, WI, Allan (Diane) Deming of Tracy, MN, and Lane (Frieda White) Deming of Colrain, NC; daughters Terry (Larry Marquette) of Little Falls, MN, Barb (Conrad) Rasmussen of Garvin, MN, and Katherine (Marvin) Hoffman of Glenwood, MN; 19 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and 6 great great-grandchildren; brother John (Lois) Sogge of Augusta, GA; and sister Carol Harder of Mt. Lake, MN; Goddaughter, Diana Ahl of Clearwater, MN; many nieces and nephews; and many friends.

She is now reunited with her husband, Bob, of 56 years; her parents, John and Anna; brothers, Osmund (Oz), infant Gerhart, Gerhart (Gay), Ansel (Jerry), Glen, Harlan (Toby); sisters, Marion Ford, Birdell (Bert) Chewning, and Laura Rutherford; and daughter-in-law, Sally Anderson.