Ben H. Behrens, 86, son of Herman and Tena Heronemus Behrens, was born Sept. 10, 1921, near Little Rock, Iowa. He died March 20, 2008, at Avera Holy Family Health in Estherville, Iowa.
As a youth, he lived in the Little Rock, Melvin and Sibley areas.
After completing his education, he served in the National Guard with Red Bull 136th Medical and during World War II from Feb. 10, 1941, to June 2, 1945, in the U.S. Army in the medical division as an ambulance driver. He saw action in overseas campaigns, among them the D-Day Invasion/Omaha Beach, Battle of the Bulge and Reimagen Bridge. After his honorable discharge, he continued in the National Guard.
He married Evelyn J. Schultz Oct. 31, 1945, in Sibley, Iowa. They made their home at Sibley, where Mr. Behrens had a construction company and later worked for Iowa Electric, Light and Power. He transferred to Sioux Rapids in 1952.
In 1960, the Behrens moved to Marshfield, Wis., where he was a dairy farmer and electrician in the Rolla home plant.
In May 1978, they moved to the Tyrone/Elk Creek area, where he was a real estate broker at Cabool. When his health failed in 1995, he became a resident at Houston House Nursing Center.
In July 1999, they moved to Estherville, Iowa, where he was a resident of Rosewood Manor.
Mr. Behrens was a member of the Lutheran church wherever he lived: Houston, Willow Springs and Redeemer in Esterville.
He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion, last active with Cabool Post 473.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Roxanne; his parents; brother, Robert; and a grandson.
Surviving are his wife of Estherville, Iowa; children, Linda Converse of Springfield, Bruce Behrens of Marshfield, Wis., and Timothy Behrens of East Tray, Wis.; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Memorial services were March 29 at Redeemer Lutheran Church with military rites by VFW Post 3388 and American Legion Post 91 of Estherville. Burial was in Springfield National Cemetery in Missouri.
