The funeral service for Marshall Fredrick Bendixen of Albert Lea will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Grace Lutheran Church. The Rev. Todd Walsh and the Rev. Andrea Myers will officiate. Interment will be in Lakewood Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by Albert Lea veterans organizations. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Bonnerup Funeral Service and one hour before the service at the church.
Marshall died peacefully at his home on Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, after a two-year courageous battle with cancer. He was 81.
He was born on May 13, 1928, at Naeve Hospital in Albert Lea, the son of Fred C. and Nellie (Swenson) Bendixen.
He graduated from Freeborn High School in 1946. Marshall was drafted into the U.S. Army on Oct. 23, 1950, and received his honorable discharge on July 23, 1952, after serving in Korea for one year with the 5th Regimental Combat Team. Throughout his life he continued with organizational association events with the R.C.T. After getting out of the service, Marshall began work with Interstate Power, where he held various positions. He retired in 1990, after 38 years with Interstate.
Marshall, a member of Grace Lutheran Church since 1958, had served as church council member and an usher, as well as treasurer of Grace Lutheran Brotherhood for many years. He had been a member of the Albert Lea Jaycees, receiving the outstanding Jaycee of the Year Award in 1962. As a Jaycee, he was very active in organizing the Pickerel Lake Park clean-up. Marshall, a member of the American Legion since 1950, was also a member of the Elks Club.
Marshall played slow pitch softball for several years for both Interstate Power and the Albert Lea Jaycees. Many memories were made as he enjoyed time spent in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Branson, Mo., and yearly trips (43) to Bear Paw Lodge in northern Minnesota.
His family was his most precious possession and he will be lovingly missed by his wife, Helen; two daughters: Marsha (Steve) Rafdal of Albert Lea and Diane (Tom) Natzel of Dassel; grandchildren: Josh (Stacy) Natzel of Minneapolis, Dustin Rafdal (Kim Hansen) of Albert Lea, Bethany Natzel of Denver, Colo., Brooke Rafdal of Minneapolis, Nicole Rafdal of St. Cloud; great-grandchildren: Mason Rafdal and Jacob Natzel; brother, Paul (Betty) Bendixen of Marion, Iowa; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Charlotte (Alton) Rice and Donald (Louise) Johnson of Albert Lea; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his parents-in-law; and a special cousin, Priscilla Mutschler, who lived with his family as a child.
“Swampy” as he was affectionately called by family and friends alike, was a treasure to all whose lives he touched.