Arthur &uot;Art&uot; M. Bendickson, age 77, of Northwood, Iowa, died Monday, Dec. 8, 2003, at the Manly Nursing and Rehab. Center in Manly, Iowa.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the First Lutheran Church, 309 N. Ninth St., Northwood, with the Rev. Paul Holmer officiating.

Burial will be in the Sunset Rest Cemetery in Northwood, with full military honors by &uot;Our Buddies VFW Memorial Post #6779&uot;, of Northwood. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday, at the Conner Colonial Chapel, 1008 First Ave. S., Northwood, and one hour prior to service time on Saturday at the church.

The family of Arthur M. Bendickson has requested that memorial contributions be made to Hospice of North Iowa or to the Mercy Medical Center&045;North Iowa Cancer Center in Mason City, in his memory.

Art Bendickson was born on April 21, 1926, in Emmons, the son of George and Luella (Hanson) Bendickson, the first of four children. He attended school at Lake Mills and graduated from Emmons High School. He was inducted into the U.S. Navy in 1946, serving overseas during World War II until his honorable discharge in 1948.

He was united in marriage to Eunice Schilling on May 29, 1949, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Myrtle. Art worked as a mechanic for Chrysler garages in Albert Lea, and Northwood for 25 years, and was the Worth County shop mechanic for 15 years until his retirement in 1987.

He enjoyed fishing, camping and attending athletic events, especially the Waldorf College games. Art was very active and was a life member in &uot;Our Buddies VFW Memorial Post #6779&uot; of Northwood. He also held positions in the 3rd district VFW. He was veterans affairs commissioner of Worth County for many years. While his sons were growing up, he was Boy Scout leader for a number of years.

When the grandchildren from Omaha came to visit, he would take them fishing to area lakes, which they always looked forward to.

Art was afflicted with cancer 10 years ago, with frequent re-occurrences, but never complained having treatments many times. He was one of the honorary chairpersons for the Relay for Life in Northwood in 2001. He lost a valiant battle from cancer on Monday, Dec. 8.

He was a member of First Lutheran Church in Northwood.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Eunice Bendickson of Northwood; two sons: Barry (Patricia) Bendickson of Forest City, Iowa, and Steven (Linda) Bendickson of Albert Lea; a daughter, Rebecca (Mark) Goebel of Omaha, Neb.; six grandchildren: Ryan Bendickson of Des Moines, Iowa, Kristen Bendickson of Greeley, Colo., Tori Bendickson of Forest City, Iowa, and Daniel, David and Hannah Goebel of Omaha, Neb.; two sisters: Annie Anderson and Gladys Bombella of Albert Lea; and a brother-in-law, Lawrence Swehla of Georgia.

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and a sister, Gilma.