Funeral services for Bennie Leon Pence, age 84, of Geneva, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at Community Lutheran Church in Geneva.

The Rev. Joel Xavier will officiate.

Interment will be in the Geneva Cemetery.

Visitation is from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the services at the church.

Bennie died Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2007, at the Albert Lea Good Samaritan Center after a short illness.

Bennie Leon Pence was born July 28, 1922, to Ralph and Alice (Larson) Pence in Albert Lea. He grew up in the Geneva area. Bennie was a farmer and a cattle buyer and owned and operated the Geneva Livestock Sale Barn. He was a member of Community Lutheran Church, Albert Lea Trades & Labor Assembly, Eagles, Senior Citizens Center, and the Union Center Seniors.

Bennie loved trapping, hunting, fishing and woodworking.

Survivors include his special friend, Evelyn Anderson of Geneva; sons: Larry (Vikki) Pence of Albert Lea, Steve (Sue) Pence of Jacksonville, Fla., Neil (Ellen) Pence of Northfield, and Chuck (Nancy) Pence of Owatonna; step sons, Tim (Lezley) Heilman of Waseca and Terry (Julie) Heilman of Northfield; grandchildren: Megan and Ashlee Pence, Jason (Tanya) Pence, Corey Pence, Jennifer (Juan) Ortega, and Charlie and Jake Pence; step grandchildren: Heidi and Chad and Michelle, Michael and

Jessie; great-grandchildren: Anthony, Zachary, Arianna, Trent, and Eric; and brother, Philip (Delphine) Pence of Albert Lea.

Bennie was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Alice; brother, Kenneth; and wife, Clarine.

Bennie was well known around Geneva for his &8220;vegetable runs&8221; and his stories. He will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him.