Donald Richard Benny, age 79, of Cambridge passed away July 29, 2009 at GracePointe Crossing Gables West. A service will be held at 7:00 P.M. Sunday, August 2nd at Strike Funeral Home – Cambridge Chapel with Father James David Hahn officiating. A visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. Sunday at our Cambridge chapel. Interment will be in Gethsemane Cemetery in New Hope at 10:30 A.M.
Donald Richard Benny was born June 26, 1930, in Minneapolis to William and Dorothy Benny. He married Norma Jean Fischer on Aug. 10, 1952, and they became caring parents of Jeffrey and Julie. Don attended Edison High School and Dunwoody Institute, becoming a machinist and life-long entrepreneur. In 1960, Don founded Metal Masters, doing business in northeast Minneapolis and Columbia Heights. He subsequently founded Benny Machine Company in Minneapolis, moving the company to Columbia Heights in 1968, to Cambridge in 1974 and finally to Isanti in 1987, where it is now managed by his son. After retirement from Benny Machine Company, Don turned his hobby of refurbishing boats into Benny Marine Company of Isanti. Don served in the US Army Reserves during the Korean Conflict. He loved his family and friends, fishing, hunting, boating, bowling and especially sharing a good joke.
Don passed away peacefully in his sleep July 29, 2009 after suffering a stroke on July 4 at GracePointe Crossing Gables West at the age of 79 years, 1 month and 3 days. He is preceded in death by his parents, daughter Julie, and brother Gerald.
He is survived by his loving wife, Norma, son and daughter-in-law Jeff and Kim, grandson Ty, and many friends and family members.