Mary Ellen Benton (Dokken)

Mary was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend.  She left this world peacefully on January 25, at the age of 77.

A celebration of Mary's life will be held at 5 p.m. on Saturday, January 27, at the Spicer American Legion.  Interment will be at a later date at the Vikor (Solomon Lake) Cemetery.  Arrangements are entrusted to Peterson Brothers Funeral Home.  www.petersonbrothers.com

Mary was born on November 10, 1946, in Willmar, Minnesota, the daughter of Henry and Agnes (Thorson) Dokken.  She grew up in Willmar and graduated from Willmar High School in 1964.  Following high school, Mary worked as a telephone operator, dabbled in bartending and the service industry and later became the Lead Dietary Cook at Bethesda Nursing Home. In 1965, Mary married John Heveron and to this union were born Justine and Jon.  In 1970, Mary was married to Warren Benton and to this union Jackie, Jenelle, Jolene, Jason and Jelynda were born.  Mary enjoyed bowling, gardening and sewing.  She lived for reading her romance novels to relax after a hard days work.     

She is survived by her children, Tina (and Claire) Warner of Melbourne, FL., Jon (and Dianne) Benton of Silver Lake, Jackie Benton of Lima, OH., Jenelle Benton (and Chris) of Brooten, Jolene (and Ben) Clark of Rockledge, FL., Jason (and Val) Benton of Alexandria and Jelynda (and Gary) Solid of Eagle Bend; eighteen grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.  Also surviving are four brothers, Rodney (and Jean) Dokken of Oklahoma, Tony (and Jan) Dokken of Willmar, Roger Dokken of Hawaii and Robert (and Sanna) Dokken of Minneota, besides other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Warren in 2009, an infant daughter, Anita Rae; two sisters, Ila Mae and Barb; and one brother, LaVerne.