Josephine M. Benjamin, age 84, of Annandale, died Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at the Buffalo Hospital. Funeral Services will be held 11 am, Thursday January 17, 2019 at Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel in Annandale. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m on Wednesday and one hour prior to the service on Thursday, both at the funeral chapel.
Jo will be interred along with her husband at a later date at Pine Grove Cemetery in Cass Lake, Minnesota. Josephine Mae Benjamin was born July 12, 1934 in Elm Creek, Nebraska to Harry and Elva (Wright) Hasbrouck. Along with her six siblings, Jo grew up in Elm Creek, where she also graduated from high school in 1952.
She met her future husband, Ernest “Ben” Benjamin, in Lincoln, Nebraska at the Bluebird Café. On November 22, 1953, they were united in marriage at in Lincoln, Nebraska. With Ben serving in the Air Force, Jo proudly cared for their home and their children, while also working various jobs.
Over the years, they lived in numerous locations including Mississippi, California, Colorado, Wisconsin, Texas, Florida, Nebraska, Panama, and Minnesota. In the mid-1960’s, upon Ben’s retirement from the Air Force, they settled in Maple Lake, Minnesota. They made Maple Lake their home until Ben’s retirement from Control Data; they eventually retired to Odessa, Nebraska.
While in Odessa, Jo was an active member of First Christian Church. She remained in Nebraska until Ben’s death in 2006. She then moved to Annandale, Minnesota to be closer to her family.
In her spare time Jo enjoyed crocheting items for her grandchildren and great grandchildren, reading books, and fixing puzzles. Hand-written correspondence was never a lost art with Jo; she always took the time to hand write a letter or card. Family was always Jo’s top priority.
Whether it be volunteering for her children’s activities or watching as a spectator, she was always her children’s and grandchildren’s biggest fan. Jo is survived by her children, Teri (Bruce) Schmidt of Annandale, James (Julie) Benjamin of Washington, D.C., Sharon (Wayne) Tokkesdal of Buffalo, and Michael (Rhonda) Benjamin of Apple Valley; 14 grandchildren, Jenny, Brent, Jesse, Krysten, Nicole, Andrew, Julie, Jamie, John, Jolene, Joshua, Sarah, David and Rebecca; 23 great grandchildren; siblings, Harriet Ames, Eileen (Gary) Skyles, Rosie Hasbrouck, and Kathy Lybarger; and many nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. Jo was preceded in death by her parents; husband Ben; siblings Carol Jones and Bernard Hasbrouck; and one great grandchild.
Joshua and David Benjamin will officiate and provide the music for the service. Arrangements are entrusted to Dingmann Funeral Care Burial & Cremation Services of Annandale.
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