Benny Sandberg

Benny "Ben" Eugene Sandberg passed away peacefully on October 24, 2023, in Baxter, MN surrounded by his loving children.

Ben was born June 28, 1939, to Pearl Sandberg in Duluth, MN. He spent parts of his childhood in New Mexico and Colorado. It was in Colorado's streams where, as a young man, he first developed his lifelong love of fishing. He eventually returned to settle in Minnesota.

He lived in the Cities for awhile, often coming up to Crosby on fishing trips. On one such trip, he caught more than just fish; he saw a beautiful girl come through the door of a local establishment and told his buddy that he was going to marry that girl. He did, and he and Mary enjoyed over 50 years of marriage, raising Todd and Carrie, creating a lovely home and building their careers. Ben's faithful care for Mary as MS slowly sapped her abilities is one of the many things his family loved him for. 

Over his life, Ben worked at several jobs, including as a painter and truck driver. He was part owner of a resort in Baudette, MN where he worked as a launch captain and fishing guide on Lake of the Woods. He finally settled into a career as a lumber estimator where his mental agility with numbers really shined. 

Ben was noted for fixing almost anything, playing a mean game of cribbage, watching Westerns, building wood projects, playing guitar and hunting deer. But his passion was always on the water, wet or frozen, fishing walleye on Mille Lacs or crappies on Gilbert. He fished waters in Colorado, Alaska, Florida and Canada, too, adding trout, salmon, halibut and grouper to his list. At the end of the day, he was everyone's first choice for frying the day's catch to perfection. 

Ben's soft side showed in his love of his dogs, particularly Britta, Lily and Lucy. They were always found snuggled on his lap or expectantly waiting under his dining chair for the choicest bits of whatever was on the menu; he never disappointed them. 

Ben was a hard worker, proud of his family and home. He did without luxuries to make sure they were well-provided for and his home was maintained. Even so, he knew how to live a little and enjoyed the slots at casinos when he traveled, yearly fly-in fishing adventures with the guys to Savant Lake in Canada and eating a prime cut of steak he'd grilled. He was a creative poet at times, though certain shady limericks will now be lost to the ages. 

Ben was preceded in death by his parents, Pearl and Calvin Arvidson, his sister, Angie, and beloved wife, Mary. He's survived by his children, Carrie (Adam) Cuff and Todd (Christy) Sandberg, grandchildren, Brennen and Kindrid Sandberg, his brother, Tom (Susanne) Punton, several nephews and his sweet doggie, Lucy. 

Ben's Celebration of Life will be at Brenny Funeral Home, Baxter, MN on Monday, October 30, 2023. Visitation is at 11:00, the service at 12:00 and lunch will follow. (In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Knute Nelson Home Healthcare Services Foundation.) Please join Carrie and Todd and the family to honor Ben's memory and legacy.

                  WE love you, Dad.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Baxter.