Services for Lillian Marion Benesh Bergquist Sauer
Mon, 09/13/2021 - 11:04am
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Lillian Marion Benesh Bergquist Sauer, 95, passed away on Wednesday, September 8, 2021 at GoldPine Home in Bemidji.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 18, 2021 at 11 AM at Faith Lutheran Church, Bagley, MN. Family will greet friends for one hour prior to the service at the church. (Masks recommended but not required. Masks will be available at the church entrances.) Arrangements entrusted to Cease Family Funeral Home of Bagley and condolence messages may be shared at www.ceasefuneralhome.com.
Lil was born on June 23, 1926 to parents Fred and Annie (Rosicka) Benesh on the family farm near Alida, MN. She was the sixth of thirteen children including 8 boys and 5 girls. She was baptized and confirmed at Alida Lutheran Church. She attended school at Alida Country School and Bagley High School, graduating in 1946. After graduation, Lil was employed at Itasca State Park for a time and as a telephone operator in Hallock, MN.
On June 26, 1948, Lil married Reuben Bergquist at Alida Lutheran Church. At that time, she worked at Lundmark’s Café in Bagley. In 1960, she began work as a cook at Clearwater County Memorial Hospital. Reuben worked for Lakehead Pipeline and transferred to their Thief River Falls location but after 2 years there, they returned to make their home in Bagley while Reuben continued to work for Lakehead at the Clearbrook station. During this time, Reuben and Lil had three sons- Steven, David and Jon. Back in Bagley, Lil returned to work at CCMH but this time as a nurse’s aide. Encouraged by the hospital staff, Lil decided to further her education and took night classes in nursing at Bemidji State College and in 1966 she became a LPN. Lil worked as a LPN at the hospital for 24 years, retiring in 1988.
Reuben passed away in July of 1980 after a lingering illness. A few years later, car trouble in Hawley, MN, brought her back in touch in a long-time acquaintance whose door she knocked on for help. It was Melvin Sauer who answered her knock and they were married in June of 1988 at Faith Lutheran Church. They spent time at the Sauer lake home near Pelican Rapids and traveling around the country in their motor home. Mel passed away in 1995. Lil continued to live in her home in Bagley until 2014 when she moved to the Parkview Apartments where she lived until her death.
Lil was well-known in the community as being a fantastic cook. Baking was her favorite pastime and her friends and family were the lucky recipients of her goodies. She loved to try new recipes and had a vast collection of cookbooks, many of which she admitted to reading “just for fun”. She especially loved to bake Bohemian treats such as Kolaches, often making extra large batches so that she had an ample supply for sharing.
Lil was a long-time member of Faith Lutheran Church and was very active in Dorcas Circle, volunteering wherever and whenever she was needed. She is also a 56-year member of the Bagley American Legion Auxiliary and held many offices within that organization. In 2002, Lil was honored to be selected Clearwater County’s First Lady of the Year. She was chosen for her dedication to the community by spreading her time and talents over many causes that benefited the county’s residents by volunteering for countless fund-raisers, appreciation dinners, and for her tireless support of various organizations such as American Cancer Society, Community Holiday Meals, Bagley DAC and Greensview Nursing Home.
Lil was preceded in death by husbands - Reuben Bergquist and Melvin Sauer; brothers - Freddie, Eddie, Henry, Johnnie, Frankie, Wencil and Bennie Benesh and sister Mary Benesh Netland; and daughter-in-law - Chris (Burns) Bergquist.
Lil is survived by sons - Steve (Carol) Bergquist of Billings, MT; Dave (Mary) Bergquist of Sioux Falls, SD; and Jon (Barb) Bergquist of Bemidji, MN. She is also survived by grandchildren - Troy Bergquist, Allyson Gilmore, Ryan Bergquist, Jeremy Bergquist, Shane Bergquist, Brady Bergquist, Jared Bergquist and 9 great-grandchildren. Surviving siblings include Henrietta Erickson of Brainerd, MN; Betty Johnson of Clearbrook, MN; Shirley Wilson of Melbourne, FL and David Benesh of Portland, OR.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, Bagley, MN or Bagley Senior Center in Lil Sauer’s name.
Blessed by her memory.
