Milton Wente

Milton Wente
April 12, 1934 - October 31, 2017
 
Funeral services for Milton Wente of Benson, Minnesota will be Saturday, November 4, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Morris, with Reverend Donald Main officiating. Visitation will be Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris and for one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery in Hancock at a later date.
Milton Rodney Wente, son of Albert and Irene (Rohloff) Wente, was born April 12, 1934 at home in Tara Township in Swift County, Minnesota. He was baptized on May 20, 1934 and confirmed on June 15, 1947 at Zion Lutheran in Horton Township. After graduating in 1952 from the West Central School of Agriculture in Morris, Milton farmed with his father and also did carpentry.
On June 8, 1957, he married the love of his life, Joan M. Osterman, at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Morris. Their 60 year married life adventure started with Milton being drafted into the United States Army in November, 1957. He served two years before returning to farming with his father. The couple lived and farmed in Stevens and Swift Counties until 1986. Milton also drove school bus for the Hancock School District during this time. Milton and Joan moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where Milton worked for the Tempe Elementary School System until retiring in 1996, when they moved back to Benson, Minnesota.
Milton was called home by the Lord on Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at 5:20 p.m. at the Douglas County Hospital in Alexandria, MN after a short battle with acute leukemia. He was 83 years old.
Milton is survived by his wife of 60 years: Joan Wente of Benson; children: Deborah (Allan) Berg of Starbuck, Connie (Don) Cote of Glen Ullin, ND, James (Catherine) Wente of Benson and Judy (Duane) Wellnitz of Phoenix, AZ; seven grandchildren: Joseph VanDam, Johnathon (Valerie) Wente, Derrick (Jessica) Cote, Janelle (Matt) Madden, Cassandra (Kim) Cote, Jessica Wente and Darrin Cote; one step-granddaughter: Terri (Dustin) Schulz; six great-grandchildren: Jaelyn Madden, Madisyn Cote, Jemma Madden, Dalton Cote, Jaida Madden and Janae White; four step-great-grandchildren: Kassi Wade and Haillie, Taylor and Parker Schulz; sister: Marjorie (Willie) Sauter; brother-in-law: Robert (Bev) Giese and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents: Albert and Irene; his father-in-law and mother-in-law: John and Marth Osterman; his sister: Florence (Hoppe) Nelson; brothers-in-law: Emil Hoppe and Raymond Nelson; niece: Elaine (Sauter) Jensen; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Milton (Marie) Giese, Nettie (Joe) Wiese and Dorothy Krosch and nephew: Danny Krosch.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS MEMORIALS ARE PREFERED TO ST PAUL’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN MORRIS OR DONOR’S CHOICE.
Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements. To send condolences to the family please visit:  www.pedersenfh.com