The funeral service for Ellsworth (Benny) Bennett of Albert Lea will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at First Lutheran Church, Albert Lea. The Rev. John Holt will officiate. Interment will be in the Lakewood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before service at the church.

Ellsworth died Monday, Jan. 7, 2008, at St. John&8217;s Lutheran Home, Albert Lea.

He was 83 years old.

Ellsworth (Benny) Bennett was born Jan. 23, 1924, in Albert Lea, the son of William and Martha (Vangen) Bennett. He graduated from Albert Lea in 1943 as a representative student. His high school years in sports were shortened because of a car accident and several surgeries.

On April 18, 1953, he was united in marriage to Delores (Dee) Hendrickson at Good Shepherd Church in Wells.

He worked for Wilson & Co., and Farmstead for 45 years until he retired in 1989. He was a hog buyer for Wilson&8217;s in Albert Lea, Jackson and Livermore, Iowa.

He was a Boy Scoutmaster for many years, in Iowa and Minnesota, Lions Club president, golf instructor for Community Education, Green Lea Golf Course and private lessons. Chairman many years for the Pork Chop Golf Tournament.

He was an avid golfer and won many golf tournaments in Minnesota and Iowa, including the Short Stop in Albert Lea three times.

Grandpa Benny loved playing golf, table games and ping pong with his family and grandchildren. He made many Barn Clocks for people from wood on their farms.

Benny is survived by his wife Delores (Dee); children: Jeff (Traci) Bennett, Mark Bennett and special friend, Fran Hedum; grandchildren: Justin Bennett, Matt Bennett, Heather Raatz, Kayla Thompson, Cody Bennett; one sister Wilma (John) Ditlevson; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Bennett, Kathy Bennett, Myrna (Donald) Schulz; brother-in-law Hilbert Voigt.

Benny was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Harry, Walter and Merrill Bennett; three sisters, Myrtle, Phyllis and Deloris Kelly; sisters-in-law, Mary Bennett and Bea Voigt; brothers-in-law, Vern Kelly, Roger and David Hendrickson; niece Julie Voigt; and nephews Kent Schulz and Randy Voigt.