Funeral services for Merrill L. Bennett, age 77, of Albert Lea will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2002, at First Lutheran Church. The Rev. Lyndon West will officiate. Interment will be in Lakewood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 – 8 p.m., Monday, Nov. 11, 2002 at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.

Merrill died on Friday, Nov. 8, 2002 at the Albert Lea Medical Center.

Merrill Leonard Bennett was born on Oct. 13, 1925, in Albert Lea, the son of William P. and Martha E. (Vangen) Bennett. Merrill was a lifelong resident of Albert Lea and graduated from Albert Lea High School. On Oct. 1, 1955 Merrill was united in marriage to Kathleen Mae Langerud at Salem Lutheran Church. Merrill was a retired foreman at Wilson’s Garage. He attended First Lutheran Church and was a member of the Elks Lodge. Merrill enjoyed participating in and watching sports, especially the Minnesota Twins. He loved to play cards and games, loved to do woodworking, and most of all loved to spend time with his family.

Survivors include his wife Kathy of Albert Lea, children Jim and his wife Lisa Bennett of Clarks Grove, Don and his wife Gayle Bennett of Walters, and Marianne and her husband Julio Somellian of Albert Lea; grandchildren Brettany Bennett, Jason Kark, and Julio Somellian Jr.; brother Ellsworth and his wife Dee Bennett of Albert Lea, sister Phyllis Bennett of Albert Lea, sister Wilma and her husband John Dittlevson of Clarks Grove, sister Delores Kelly of Clarks Grove; sisters-in-law Dorothy Bennett of Albert Lea, and Mary Bennett of the Twin Cities, brother-in-law Richard Langerud and his friend Shirley Gold of Albert Lea; sister-in-law Lorraine and her husband Richard Willmert of Austin, brother-in-law Ray and his wife Joyce Langerud of Albert Lea; and several nieces and nephews.

Merrill was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Myrtle, brothers Harry and Walter, his brother-in-law Verne, his sister-in-law Mavis, and four infant children.