Benedict Thomas Bina

Published November 18, 2018 at 6:39 PM

Benedict "Ben" Thomas Bina, age 82 of Grafton, passed away Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at the First Care Hospital of Park River.

Benedict Thomas Bina, the son of the late Joseph and Pauline (Dvorak) Bina, was born February 16, 1936 at the family farm near Conway, ND, during a blizzard and 40 below zero temperatures. He attended rural school, helped his father on the farm and later proudly achieved his GED. He was drafted into the United States Army serving from 1959 to 1960, returning to help his father farm. Benedict later operated his own family farming business. Ben was united in marriage to Janet Maszk on April 12, 1961 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Ardoch, ND. He was happily married to his sweetheart for 56 years. The couple made their home on the family farm where they raised their four daughters. Ben and Janet moved to Grafton in February 2018 and he moved to the Good Samaritan Center of Park River in July 2018.

He was a member and trustee of St. Luke's Catholic Church, Veseleyville, ND and was a Grand Knight in the Knights of Columbus. He was very sociable at church, always being one of the last to leave. He was a member of the Pisek American Legion Post. Ben was a strong supporter of his family and a strong leader in the community. He enjoyed wildlife, farming, painting, and hunting. Ben was known for playing his guitar and powerfully singing The Ballad of the Green Beret to his family.

Ben is survived by his wife, Janet Bina, Grafton, ND; daughters: Valerie (Bradley) Aho, Mohall, ND; Constance Economos, Fargo, ND; Darlene (Gene) Langham, Jacksonville, FL; Cynthia (Ben) Bedard, Bottineau, ND; thirteen grandchildren, four great grandchildren; sister, Pauline Reese, Reno, NV. Several nieces and nephews also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandchildren: Alaundra and Katelyn Economos, siblings: Daniel, Joseph, Henrietta, Marcella, Agnes, Gerald, Clifford, Beatrice, Edward, Mary Jo, Alice and an infant sister.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 10:30 A.M. at St. Luke's Catholic Church, Veseleyville, ND. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at the St. Luke's Catholic Cemetery, Veseleyville, ND. Military Rites will be provided by the Pisek American Legion Post and the North Dakota National Guard Honor Guard.

An online guestbook is available at www.tollefsonfuneralhome.com

The Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton is in charge of the arrangements.