Verlene C. Benck

Verlene C. Benck, 87, of Beldenville, Wisconsin, passed away on February 11, 2026, surrounded by her family, who lovingly cared for her in her final days and weeks.

She was born on February 4, 1939, in Titonka, Iowa, to Henry and Clara (Giesking) Mayland. She graduated from Titonka High School in 1956 and met her future husband, Wayne Benck at a dance in Fox Lake. The two were married on October 3, 1959. They lived in Iowa, where they owned and operated a hardware store and HVAC business and raised their family before moving to Wisconsin in 1980. Verlene did daycare in her home for her grandchildren and several other families. She was a loving and devoted Grandma and Gigi and was always their #1 fan regardless of the passions they pursued. She also worked for a time at the Bay City Post Office and then in the photo department at Walmart where she was known for her friendliness and personable nature.

Verlene enjoyed traveling both domestic and international. She had a passion for fishing, which included several trips to Canada throughout her life. A loyal supporter of the Green Bay Packers, she delightfully received a personal well-wish from them upon her diagnosis. Sports were always on tv if her soaps weren’t and she was a competitive player of her fantasy football league, drafting only Packer players. And whether playing a competitive game of euchre, delighting in the beauty of the numerous hummingbirds that would visit her feeders filled with her hand-made nectar, or taking the occasional trip to the casino where she often seemed to find a small jackpot waiting for her—Verlene’s zest for life was infectious. After Wayne passed away in 2017, Verlene was fortunate to find a close companion in Randy Stevens and the two shared a love of fishing until his passing in 2020. Throughout life, Verlene had many close friends—old and new, who she cherished her time and conversations with.

She is survived by her children: Betty (Richard "Beaky") Dakovich of Des Moines, IA, Kenny (Lorna) Benck of Bay City, Gene (Andrea) Benck of Hager City, and Kaylene (Dominic Hamilton) Nielsen of Hastings; 16 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren. Verlene is also survived by her three siblings, Rich (Linda) Mayland of Florida, Jim (Bonnie) Mayland of Iowa, and Henry (Deb) Mayland of South Dakota and sisters-in-laws, cousins and several nieces and nephews as well has her dog, Phane

Verlene was preceded in death by her parents; an infant son, Denny; her beloved husband, Wayne; her daughter, Barb Bethel; her brothers Marlin, Ed and Bill Mayland; her companion, Randy Stevens and a great-granddaughter, Isla Rae Charles.

Memorial service for Verlene will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 6, 2026, at Eidsvold Lutheran Church in Esdaile, Wisconsin. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service. A celebration of life for Verlene will take place at the Bluffs in Hager City, Wisconsin, immediately following the service from 3:30-6:30 p.m. In the spirit of Verlene, remember to dress nice for church and slip on your Packer gear for the celebration. The family wishes to express their thanks and gratitude for all the care Interim Health’s hospice team gave to Verlene, they were truly angels on earth. Arrangements handled by Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel, Red Wing, MN.