Russell O. Bengry, age 73, died on Tues-day, May 23, 1995, at his home in the presence of his family. He was born on May 25, 1921, in Escanaba, Michigan. He graduated from Lansing (Michigan) Central High School in 1939. He was married to Phyllis M. Merrill on February 10, 1943. He was a life member of the Lansing Michigan F & AM Masonic Lodge #33, Consistory, Valley, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, past president of the Baraboo, Wisconsin Kiwanis, and an elder in the Presbyterian church. He served as Battery Clerk, Field Artillery, 70th Infantry Division in World War II in Germany.
He began working for Sears Roebuck in 1940 in Lansing advancing to several departments before and after his military service. He was promoted to division head in plumbing and heating in Beloit, Wisconsin, promoted to Northwest zone staff in Minneapolis, Minnesota, traveling to 50 stores in seven states. He refused an offer as a buyer in Chicago, and was later named a store manager in Baraboo and Marshfield, Wisconsin. In 1973, he transferred to a brand new store in the DeSoto Square Mall in Bradenton, Florida, where he retired in 1976. In 1989, he moved back to Wisconsin at McFarland, and later settled in DeForest.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis (Merrill) Bengry; a daughter, Lynne (Bruce) Coller of Baraboo; sons, Harry S. (Mary) Bengry III of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Mark (Georgiana Lowe) Bengry of McFarland; six grandchildren, Chris A Bengry, Bill B. Coller, Brian A. Bengry, all of the Madison area, Jody C. Bengry and Jef-Irey S. Bengry of Sioux Fails, South Dakota, and Alec Widerski of Cambridge; two sisters, Betty (Robert) Parish of Lansing, Michigan, and Mary (Daniel) Castle of Jacksonville, Florida; a brother in-law, Roger Merrill of Lan-sing, Michigan; a sister-in-law, Ila M. Bengry of Evart, Michigan; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lolo and Harry S. Bengry Sr.; three brothers, William, Harry S. Bengry Jr. (killed on March 6, 1944, in World War II), and Walter A Bengry in Evart, Michigan.
Memorial service will be held at 1:30 on Friday, June 2, 1995, in the SCHROEDER-CESS FUNERAL HOME, 3325 E. Washington Ave., with The Reverend Kirk Morledge officiating. The family requests that flowers be omitted and memorials made to Hosthe Wisconsin Library for the Biced, bore the flist Fresbyterian Church of Waunakee.
The Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin) Thursday, May 25, 1995
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