Ben S. Tufte

Funeral services for Ben S. Tufte, age 99, of Albert Lea will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home. Bob Snow will officiate. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.  
Ben died on Friday morning, October 2, 2015 at St. John’s Lutheran Community.
Ben S. Tufte was born on September 7, 1916 in Albert Lea, the son of Andrew and Jensina (Bothum) Tufte. He grew up and went to school in Albert Lea. He was a lifelong resident of this area. On October 5, 1940 Ben was united in marriage to Betty Smith in Hampton, IA. They made their home in Albert Lea. Ben worked for Wilson and Co. as a fireman and sprinkler man. Following his retirement he and Betty spent winters in Corpus Christi, TX and summers in Longville, MN for the next 25 years. They moved back to Albert Lea in 2004. Ben was a member of the Eagles Lodge and the Church of Christ where he served as an Elder.
Ben enjoyed fishing and fixing fishing poles. He was able to go fishing last summer at the age of 98.He also enjoyed hunting coons and rabbits with his dogs and had been a deer and pheasant hunter in his earlier years. He liked watching sports of any kind, especially the Minnesota Twins, Vikings, Timberwolves and Wild. He liked doing crossword puzzles, playing Yahtzee, cribbage, and huckley buck, and telling jokes. Blessed be his memory.
Ben is survived by his children Judy Bringgold of South St. Paul, Mary (Larry) Lahs of Albert Lea, and Shari Staude of Albert Lea; grandchildren Wally (Deb)Bringgold, Larry (Nancy) Lahs Jr., Laura (Ken) Delano, Sara Anderson, Linda Meza, Karen Hershey, James Bringgold, John (Tammy) Bryand Jr., and Josh (Angie) Bryand; 20 great and 3 great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Jeanette Zobel of St. Cloud; and nieces and nephews.
Ben was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Betty in 2008, grandson Ronnie Bringgold, sons-in-law Ken Bringgold and Dwain Staude, brothers Peter and Oscar Tufte, sisters Pearl Tufte and Mildred Van Riper, and his mother-in-law and father-in-law Margaret and Harry Smith.