Obituary: ​Rev. F. Richard Benken

Information via Guilford Funeral Home

Rev. F. Richard Benken passed away peacefully in Pilgrim Manor at the Covenant Village of Cromwell in Cromwell, Ct. on May 20, surrounded by family and loved ones. Richard was born to Willi and Louise (Ammann) Benken on June 25, 1929 in New York, NY.

He graduated from Concordia Seminary, Springfield IL in 1955 and continued his post graduate studies at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Two weeks prior to accepting his first call to New Britain, CT, Richard married Joan Eleanore Guelzow on Aug. 4, 1956. In June of 1958, he accepted a call to The Lutheran Church of Madison where he served for 39 years.

He continued to serve as vacancy Pastor for several congregations in the New England District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod for the next 16 years before retiring to Covenant Village. Richard is survived by his wife, Jody; four children, Elizabeth Lunt (Vern), Peter Benken, Kristina Smith, and Andrew Benken (Diana Kump); eight grandchildren: Daniel (Nicole), Katie (Michael), Stephanie, Madeline, Benjamin, Adam, Erin, and Christopher; and four great grandchildren: Anna, Lucas, Emma, and Emily.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Marian Dressler.The family wishes especially to thank the staff of Pilgrim Manor who patiently and lovingly cared for Richard for the past year and half. You were a blessing for all of us and we are forever grateful.

A funeral service will be held at The Lutheran Church of Madison, Madison CT, on May 31 at 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Lutheran World Relief, PO Box 17061, Baltimore, MD 21298-9832, or to the Benevolent Fund at the Covenant Village of Cromwell, 52 Missionary Road, Cromwell, CT 06416.

A private interment service will take place at West Cemetery in Madison at a date to be determined by the family. Richard was a humble man who loved the Lord. He devoted his life to preaching Jesus Christ crucified for the forgiveness of sins. We share in his hope of Jesus' resurrection and the life of the world to come.