Charles "Chuck" Allen Wilts

Charles Allen Wilts, age 84, died Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at his home is Benson, Minnesota. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Benson. Visitation will continue from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, followed by the funeral service at 11:30 a.m. Interment will be at the Benson City Cemetery. Zniewski Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. www.zniewskifuneralhome.com

Charles Allen Wilts was born on September 24, 1939, to Tony and Ethel (Lundberg) Wilts, on a farm south of Murdock, Minnesota. When he was two, they moved to a farm near Appleton, MN.

He was baptized at Calvary Lutheran Church on May 19, 1940, by Rev. Carl Peterson and confirmed at Drywood Lutheran Church in 1953.

Charles attended country school, District 65, in rural Appleton through seventh grade and graduated from Appleton High School in 1957. He enlisted and served in the National Guard from December 1956 to July 1965. He was activated for the Bay of Pigs during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

April 20, 1958, Charles was united in marriage to Darlene Joan Saulsbury, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church by Pastor V. Hergesheimer; together they were able to share 65 amazing years. To this union three sons were born.

Chuck first worked for the Benson Bakery where in retirement he enjoyed many visits with friends for “golf” a.k.a. coffee. He also worked for The Benson Creamery and then Agralite for 38 years, until his retirement in February 2002.

Chuck served as an usher, elder, and treasurer at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. He also served on the local Thrivent Board. He was on the original board establishing Happy’s Landing Lake Association at Lobster Lake and later enjoyed renovating their cabin on Pocket Lake.

Chuck served 33 years on the Swift County Fair Board. He loved the joy the fair brought to his family and all fairgoers. Many hours were spent at the fairgrounds planning, preparing, repairing, and building. He was named “Fair Person of the Year” for District 7 in 2011.

Chuck enjoyed golfing, fishing, horseshoes, playing cards and watching any game with a ball. His favorite was attending any event that his children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren participated in. Golfing was a favorite activity after retirement, and he loved the “competition” with his great-grandsons and “The preacher.”

Chuck developed a talent for wood carving and enjoyed creating from a simple block of wood. He’d spend hours carving and leaving little “wood chippies” all over the house. He enjoyed sharing his talents, and carved full nativity sets for each grandchild and great-grandchild.

Chuck was called from this life on December 27, 2023, at his home with his family at his side. He was 84 years old.

Chuck is survived by his wife Darlene “Bridge” Wilts of Benson; sons: Kevin (Rose) Wilts of Benson, Kyle (Lisa) Wilts of Alexandria, Keith (Lisa Sell) Wilts of St. Michael; Grandchildren: Jessica (Josh) Minchow, Tifani (Eric) Flieth, Meagan (Elisha) Odegaard, Hillary (Mike) Wenberg, Matt (fiancé Gabby) Wilts, Tony Wilts, Jacob (fiancé Kelsey) Wilts, Becca Wilts, and Sarah Wilts; Great-grandchildren: Patrick, Isaac, and Thea Minchow, Emma and Hazel Flieth, Kiley and Charlie Bemis, Eleanor, Coraline, and Calvin Odegaard;  brother Stan Wilts of Appleton and sister Gloria Giese of Benson; brothers-in-law: Leroy Sanders and Ken Schmidtke; sister-in-law Sue Saulsbury, and many nieces and nephews.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws Herb and Helen Saulsbury, brother Don Wilts, nephew Myron Giese, and niece Peggy Hilbrand.