Raymond L. Berens

Raymond L. Berens

Raymond L. Berens, age 90, of Benson, Minnesota died Tuesday, December 30, 2025  at Bethesda Grand in Willmar. His Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 6, at the Church of St. Francis in Benson, with interment in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Monday, January 5, at the church and will continue one hour prior to the Mass on Tuesday. 

Raymond was born July 9, 1935, in Lake Lillian, Minnesota, the son of Edwin and Ethlyn (Knode) Berens. The family moved to the Benson area when he was a young boy, where he attended school and graduated from Benson High School in 1954. Ray married Beverley June on June 2, 1956, at the Church of St. Francis in Benson. During their 65 years of marriage, they were blessed with eight children, 15 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

Ray worked with his family on the farm and began running a dozer doing field work in 1948. He served in the National Guard from 1952 to 1958 and later founded Raymond Berens Construction, providing custom work with dozers and scrapers. Beginning in 1965, Ray drove truck during the winter months - first for TCI of Benson, then for Lorenz hauling product, and later for Roy Berens Trucking, hauling livestock to St. Paul.

In 1984, Ray and Bev moved to Colorado Springs, where he operated heavy equipment for Boyer Construction of Greeley and worked on the final runway at Stapleton Airport before construction began on the new Denver airport. While continuing to work for Boyer Construction, they moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for one and a half years, then to Vista, California, where Ray worked as an equipment operator and mechanic until his retirement in 1999.

Following retirement, Ray and Bev returned to Minnesota and lived with Sue and Tom in Willmar before purchasing their home in Benson in 2000. Retirement, however, proved not to be an option for Ray. He returned to work for Kennedy Excavating for one year, then worked part-time for several years. He later worked for Commerford Construction during the summer months and returned to California during the winters. After four years, he worked a full season for Commerford as a truck driver and equipment operator.

Ray is survived by his children: Susan (Tom) Anderson of Willmar; Daniel Berens of Benson; Cynthia (Bob) Reiman of Benson; James (Linda) Berens of Benson; Robin (Kimberley) Berens of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Karin Berens of Wichita, Kansas; Ruth Ann (Paul) Reiman of Benson; and Brent (Linette) Berens of Benson; along with 15 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. He is also survived by his siblings: Donald (Barb) Berens of St. Louis Park; Clarence “Swede” Berens of Benson; Shirley Vergin of Plato; Sharon (Duane) Bierbaum of Glencoe; Roger “Butch” Berens of Benson; Donna Collins of Benson; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Beverley; brothers, Eugene and Vernon; sister, Marjorie; sister-in-law, Rhoda Berens; and brother-in-law, Roger Vergin.

Funeral arrangements are with Harvey Anderson & Johnson Funeral Home in Willmar. 

Online condolences may be left at www.hafh.org. Memorials preferred in lieu of flowers.