Rodger Bense

Called by Jesus, Rodger went to his heavenly home on November 9, 2019.   Funeral services for Roger will be held on Wednesday, November 13, 2019, 11:00 a.m., at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Long Prairie with Pastor Noah Wehrspann officiating.  Friends may call on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Long Prairie and on the day of the funeral one hour prior to the service.  Interment was held at the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Long Prairie.

Rodger was born July 20, 1937 to Hubert and Mable (Rasmusson) Bense.  He grew up on a dairy farm 1 mile west of Long Prairie where he learned the values of hard work and getting work done right the first time.  He graduated in 1955 from Long Prairie High School.  After graduation Rodger worked for the Todd County Highway Department for a short time, then enlisted in the United States Army.  He returned to Long Prairie in 1958 and spun records for KEYL before beginning his banking career.  In 1961, he married Marlys Holler at Trinity Lutheran Church where together they had attended church and would continue to do so for 58 years. Rodger spent 48 years in the banking industry starting at First National Bank as a teller.  He was given the opportunity to attend banking schools and become involved in state and national banking organizations.  In 1979 he left First National to take a presidency at the State Bank of Long Lake.  Rodger always wanted to return to his hometown and in 1986 founded Lake Country State Bank.  He retired from banking in 2007. Fishing was a hobby and passion for Rodger. He could be found on local lakes, summer and winter.  He organized fishing trips of a lifetime with friends to Great Slave Lake, Lake Dubawnt (Nunavut, Canada), Costa Rica, Sitka, Homer and his favorite Kodiak.   The outdoors was Rodger's getaway.  There was hunting, picking wild berries, creating trails and cutting wood.  Banking was his serious side.  Then there were times you couldn't tell if Rodger was serious or not.  You could say he enjoyed giving people a hard time.  It took a while, but his grandkids figured him out.  All enjoyed the sparring that went back and forth.

Rodger is survived by his wife, Marlys; son, Chad (Barb) Bense of Long Prairie and sister Patty Lowe of Clotho.  Two grandchildren Collin Bense and Kayla Bense both of Long Prairie; cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Hubert and Mable Bense and Brother-in-law Keith Lowe.

Rodger was born July 20, 1937 to Hubert and Mable (Rasmusson) Bense.  He grew up on a dairy farm 1 mile west of Long Prairie where he learned the values of hard work and getting work done right the first time.  He graduated in 1955 from Long Prairie High School.  After graduation Rodger worked for the Todd County Highway Department for a short time, then enlisted in the United States Army.  He returned to Long Prairie in 1958 and spun records for KEYL before beginning his banking career.  In 1961, he married Marlys Holler at Trinity Lutheran Church where together they had attended church and would continue to do so for 58 years. Rodger spent 48 years in the banking industry starting at First National Bank as a teller.  He was given the opportunity to attend banking schools and become involved in state and national banking organizations.  In 1979 he left First National to take a presidency at the State Bank of Long Lake.  Rodger always wanted to return to his hometown and in 1986 founded Lake Country State Bank.  He retired from banking in 2007. Fishing was a hobby and passion for Rodger. He could be found on local lakes, summer and winter.  He organized fishing trips of a lifetime with friends to Great Slave Lake, Lake Dubawnt (Nunavut, Canada), Costa Rica, Sitka, Homer and his favorite Kodiak.   The outdoors was Rodger's getaway.  There was hunting, picking wild berries, creating trails and cutting wood.  Banking was his serious side.  Then there were times you couldn't tell if Rodger was serious or not.  You could say he enjoyed giving people a hard time.  It took a while, but his grandkids figured him out.  All enjoyed the sparring that went back and forth.

Rodger is survived by his wife, Marlys; son, Chad (Barb) Bense of Long Prairie and sister Patty Lowe of Clotho.  Two grandchildren Collin Bense and Kayla Bense both of Long Prairie; cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Hubert and Mable Bense and Brother-in-law Keith Lowe.

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