Paul C. Bennett

Paul Chester Bennett, a resident of Fergus Falls, MN, passed away suddenly on April 17th, 2018, at 62 years of age. A memorial service will be held on Monday, April 23rd at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Lowry with Pastor Joe Skogmo officiating. Visitation will be Sunday afternoon, April 22nd from 2:00-4:00 p.m. with a time for sharing memories at 3:30 p.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Visitation will also continue one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be in the Bohemian Independent Cemetery in rural Lowry. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood.  

Paul, the son of Chester ‘Bud’ Bennett and Marianne Svec, was born April 22nd, 1955 in Glenwood, MN.  He grew up on the Bennett family farm in Lowry, and attended elementary school there.  He graduated Salutatorian from Glenwood High School in 1973, and went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude from St. John’s University in Collegeville, where he double majored in Math and German.  After completing his teaching certification, Paul taught school in Alliance, NE and Alexandria, MN.  In 1982, he took over operations on the family farm, where he became the 5th generation to farm the original Bennett homestead.  Finally, in 2003, he began his employment with Fergus International/Titan Machinery, where he was employed at the time of his passing.

He was united in marriage to Laurie Maxine Kalina on June 24th, 1977, at First Lutheran Church in Alexandria, MN.  They made their home in Lowry for many years, before moving to Fergus Falls in 2003. The 40-year union was blessed with three children and seven grandchildren, and countless love & laughs.

Paul loved making & enjoying his home-brewed beers, which were legendary, and driving & working on his Volkswagen Beetle.  He also enjoyed his daily Sudoku puzzle and crosswords, jigsaw puzzles and brain teasers of all kinds.  But most of all, he enjoyed the time he spent with his grandchildren. 

Not one to be confined to a ‘type,’ Paul was a contradiction in many ways.  He was simultaneously generous and thrifty, hard-working yet relaxed, and one-of-a-kind yet somehow ordinary.  He will be remembered for his quick wit, patience, work ethic, and kind heart, as well as for his eclectic taste in music, as evidenced by his extensive collection of 45’s.  Rarely saying no, Paul instead said ‘sure.’  He was at his best when helping others, and was a perpetual favorite of friends, family and customers alike.

Paul is survived by his wife, Laurie, of Fergus Falls; son, Michael (Bethany) of New York Mills; daughters, Carrie Ahern of Lowry and Amy (Benjamin) Wedll of Fergus Falls; grandchildren, Aidan, Victoria & Gunnar Bennett, Braeden & Isabel ‘Bella’ Ahern, and Nolan & Evelyn Wedll; brother Dr. James (Pam) Bennett of Rochester; sister Bonnie Bennett (Jeff Halbur) of Eagan; and his adoring canine companion, Levi, who chose him as his favorite person.

Paul is preceded in death by his parents; a sister-in-law, Charlotte Metzger; and first cousin, Mark Svec. We know he is being welcomed to Heaven by countless aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and pets.  His quiet, steadfast presence will be dearly missed.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.