Leo Dale Wente

Leo Wente, 90, died Tuesday, April 30, 2019; at Scandi Haven Village in Benson, Minn. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m., Friday, May 3, 2019, at Zniewski Funeral Home in Benson.  Visitation will continue from 1-2 p.m., followed by the Funeral Service at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, May 4, 2019, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fairfield Township.  Interment will be in the Church Cemetery.



Leo Wente was born October 9, 1928, at the family farm in Fairfield Township, Swift County to Henry and Martha (Erdman) Wente.  He was baptized in October 1928 and confirmed March 29, 1942, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Fairfield.  He attended country School through the eighth grade at Dist. 51 in Fairfield Township.

Leo was united in marriage to Goldie Martha Arnold on September 30, 1948 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Fairfield.  They shared 70 years of marriage.  To this union three daughters were born.  They farmed raising livestock, chickens, and grain.  He lived on the Wente home farm 84 years and they moved to Benson in 2012.

He enjoyed his children, grand-children and great-grand-children and enjoyed going to their games and playing ball with them.

Leo was a Director for Swift Co-Op Oil and Glacial Plains for 29 years and he was on the Fairfield Town Board as a Supervisor for 24 years.  He enjoyed restoring older John Deere Tractors, visiting family and friends, and going on trips and visiting relatives in Montana.  Leo was active in the church, singing in the men’s choir, teaching Sunday school and holding offices within the congregation.  He would tape the church services and play then at the nursing home in Appleton.

Leo was called from this life on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at Scandi Haven Village in Benson. He attained the age of 90 years, 6 months, and 21 days.  He is survived by his wife, Goldie; children: Nancy (Merlyn) Larson of Correll, Marsha (Warren) Holzheimer of Holloway, and Patricia (Jerome) McGeary of Danvers; grandchildren: Doug (Amy) Larson, Randy (Sashya) Larson, Brian Larson, Stacy (Steve) Link, Michele (Dustin) Hillman, Daniel (Staci) Holzheimer, Katie Holzheimer, Erin (Jason) Selix, Robert (Jill) McGeary, and Amanda (Ben) Bengtson; great-grand-children: Chet (Nicole) Larson, Stone Larson, Tanner Larson, Caili (Brody) Bahr, Rylan Larson, Jordan Larson, Lexi Larson, Braydan Larson, Grady, Keaton, and Colby Link, Elizabeth and Leah Hillman, Savannah and Harper Holzheimer, Cole, Molly, Quinn, and Brett Selix, Eli and Nora Mc Geary, and Beau Bengtson; sisters-in-law Doris Thorsgaard and JoAnn Jagow; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Martha Wente; siblings: Eli (Alma) Wente, Helen (Paul) Ehrenberg, and Mildred (Robert) Delong; in-laws, Arthur and Martha Arnold; brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Mardell Arnold; brothers-in-law, Harold Thorsgaard and Harry Jagow.  Blessed be the memory of Leo Wente.