Archie Benson Jr.

Archie Eugene Benson, Jr., affectionately known as “Tuffy”, was born in Crate Township on April 23, 1934, the first-born of nine children to Marcella (Uttermark) and Archie Benson. He attended schools in Maynard and Granite Falls. Following service in Austria with the U. S. Army, he graduated from South Dakota State University, receiving his degree in agriculture in 3 ½ years.

Archie owned second-hand stores in Granite Falls and Sacred Heart for 50+ years, making lifelong friends in the business. He enjoyed visiting with family and friends, daily walks, listening to his extensive collection of LPs, travel, especially northwestern and western United States, high school and college sports of all kinds, scouting high school football opponents for his brother Paul for several years; was an avid reader his entire life, filling his personal library with hundreds of books, and he didn’t miss many auctions, flea markets or garage sales!

Archie is survived by his grandchildren Tom Johannsen, Jenny Feiner (Nick Beach), Sami and Allie Feiner; great grandchildren Aiden Johannsen, Jaelyn Pikar and Ethan Beach, all of St. Paul; sisters Barb Schafer of Rochester, Marj Bottge of Granite Falls, Debbie (David) Lidstrom of Granite Falls, brother Paul (Barb) Benson of Granite Falls; son-in-law Jay Feiner; sisters-in-law Barb Benson of Cloquet and Judy (Belwin) Rode of Benson, brother-in-law Bob Lecy of Echo, special friend Jackie Schlenner, and many nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Robin Feiner, sister Ruth Ann Lecy, brothers Robert and Joe Benson, infant brother Bradley, brothers-in-law Dan Schafer and Bruce Bottge and nephews Jon Lecy, Justin Lagenbrunner and Eric Langenbrunner.