Carol Benson-Rustad

January 25, 2018

IN LIEU OF FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS, THE FAMILY REQUESTS MEMORIAL BE DIRECTED TO ALZHEIMERS ASSN. Carol Thein Benson Rustad was born in Clara City, MN to Florence and George Thein on December 21, 1931. She grew up in Clara City and graduated from the Villa Maria Academy. Carol married Charles Benson on January 5, 1952. Together they had 7 children. After his death, she married Jim Rustad and became mother to his 3 children. Carol lived in many places including 25 years in Phoenix, AZ but returned to Willmar, MN to be closer to her roots in 2008. After a long battle with COPD, Carol Rustad passed peacefully on Thursday, January 25, 2018, at Rice memorial Hospital. Preceding Carol in death are her husbands, Charles Benson and Jim Rustad, her son Jack Rustad, brother Clarence Thein,2 sisters Marcella Thein and Loretta Fuhrmeister and stepson Gerry Rustad. Carol is survived by her 2 sisters Lorraine Brasket (Richard) and Germaine Hall (Graham Hemphrey), her brother George (Annie) Thein, her brother-in-law Dennis Benson (Ellen), her daughters Cindy Wachtler (Kurt), Linda Miller (Greg), Becky Slone (Randy), Connie Wagner (Terry), Laurie Denning, sons Phil Benson (Cathy), Brian Benson (Mary), Jim Rustad (Mary), and Rob Benson (Renee), and daughter-in-law Siri Rustad. She is also survived by 27 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren with 1 on the way, and 1 great, great grandchild. There are also numerous nieces and nephews and cousins. She was loved and will be missed deeply by all who knew her.