Russell L. Bennigsdorf

Russell L. Bennigsdorf

1939 – 2025

IDA GROVE - Russell Lee “Benny” Bennigsdorf, 85, of Ida Grove, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, at the Willow Dale Wellness Village of Battle Creek.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove. Rev. Neil Wehmas will officiate. Military Rites will be conducted by the McNamara-Moore Post No. 61 of the American Legion of Ida Grove. Inurnment will be held at a later date in the Ida Grove Cemetery of Ida Grove.

A Visitation will be held two-hours prior to the service from 9-11 a.m., Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove. 

The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com 

Russell Lee “Russ” Bennigsdorf was born on May 21, 1939, in Charter Oak, Iowa. He was one of ten children born to Herbert and M. Lucille (Carlson) Bennigsdorf. The family moved often while Russ was growing up and he attended country school until they moved to Ida Grove, where he completed his high school education. Russ served in the Iowa National Guard for four years and the Army Reserves for two years.

On Feb. 8, 1958, Russ was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Clara Wascher, in the St. John’s Lutheran Church of Battle Creek. The couple was blessed with four children: Vickie, Kevin, Keith, and Candy. Russ, known as “Benny” on the job and radio, worked for the Department of Transportation (DOT) as crew supervisor and equipment operator doing highway maintenance for 44 years. He retired in 2001. 

Russ and Clara enjoyed camping with family and friends. They traveled to many music festivals, meeting people in the entertainment business who became friends as well. Russ loved his family and Clara’s extended day care family. He loved sports, hunting (sometimes for food, while growing up at home), fishing up North, and playing the guitar. His family enjoyed listening to him play and would often sing along. Russ took great pride in the appearance and upkeep of his cars and his home.

Probably Russ’ favorite pastime as he grew older, was watching and cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Sometimes, his grandchildren thought the “Hawkeye” was the state bird. Russ enjoyed feeding and watching the birds; the squirrels not so much, sometimes catching them and giving them a ride to the park or cemetery. Russ was an active member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church where he was an usher and served a term on the board of trustees. He also spent countless hours volunteering for the Orphan Grain Train. Russ lived and believed in God first, others second, and himself last. He will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved him.

Left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 67 years, Clara Bennigsdorf of Ida Grove; his children Vickie Woolridge, Kevin (Christine) Bennigsdorf of Cherokee, Keith (Lorie) Bennigsdorf of Storm Lake, and Candy (Henry) Reitz of Battle Creek; grandchildren Josh (Kristen) Woolridge, Noelle Woolridge, Kurtis Lee (Megan) Bennigsdorf, Zachary Bennigsdorf, Nicholas Bennigsdorf (special friend Maggie), Hanna (Taylor) Witt, Amanda (Andy) Preston, Tanner Russell Mefferd (special friend Riley), Sarah (Brett) Preston, and Deryl Johnson; and great-grandchildren Libby and Grant Van Houten, Samantha and Steven Woolridge, Nathan Russell and Lauren Rae Bennigsdorf; brothers Vern (Edith) Bennigsdorf of Montrose, Colorado, Darrell Bennigsdorf of Ida Grove, and Lonnie (Marva) Bennigsdorf of Battle Creek; sister Carol Miller of Earlham, Iowa; many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Herbert and M. Lucille Bennigsdorf; granddaughters Emily Ann Bennigsdorf and Lynne Johnson; brothers Gary (Sharon) Bennigsdorf and Bob (Marlene) Bennigsdorf; sisters Dorene (Leroy) Wonder, Ruth (Earl D.) Schmidt, Leila (Bernard) Lansink; sister-in-law Marlene Bennigsdorf; brother-in-law Maynard Miller; and in-laws Edgar and Ella Wascher and Rolla “Mac” McConnell.