Marshall
was born on May 13, 1928, at
Naeve
Hospital
in
Albert Lea
, the son of Fred C. and Nellie (Swenson) Bendixen.
He graduated from
Freeborn
High School
in 1946.
Marshall
was drafted into the
U.S.
Army on October
23, 1950 and received his honorable discharge on July 23, 1952, after serving in
Korea
for one year with the Fifth Regimental Combat Team. Throughout his life he continued with organizational association events with the R.C.T.
After getting out of the service,
Marshall
began work with Interstate Power where he held various positions.
He retired in 1990, after 38 years with Interstate.
Marshall
was united in marriage to Helen Johnson on February 9, 1952, at
Hartland
Lutheran
Church
. Marshall, a member of Grace Lutheran Church since 1958, had served as Church council member and an usher, as well as
treasurer of Grace Lutheran Brotherhood for many years.
He had been a member of the
Albert Lea
Jaycee’s,
receiving the outstanding Jaycee Of The Year Award in 1962. As a Jaycee,
he was very active in organizing the
Pickeral
Lake
Park
clean-up.
Marshall, a member of the American Legion since 1950, was also a member of the Elks Club.
Marshall
played slow pitch softball for several years for both Interstate Power and the AL Jaycees.
Many memories were made as he enjoyed time spent in
Lake Havasu City
,
AZ
,
Branson
,
MO
and yearly trips (43) to Bear Paw Lodge in
Northern Minnesota
.
Marshall
died peacefully at his home on Monday, November 2, 2009 after a two year courageous battle with cancer.
He was 81.
His family was his most precious possession and he will be lovingly missed by his wife Helen; two daughters Marsha (Steve) Rafdal of Albert Lea, Diane (Tom) Natzel of Dassel, MN; grandchildren, Josh (Stacy) Natzel of Minneapolis, Dustin Rafdal (Kim Hansen) of Albert Lea, Bethany Natzel of Denver, CO, Brooke Rafdal of Minneapolis, Nicole Rafdal of St. Cloud; great grandchildren Mason Rafdal and Jacob Natzel; brother, Paul (Betty) Bendixen of Marion, IA; brother’s-in-law and sister’s-in-law Charlotte (Alton) Rice and Donald (Louise) Johnson of Albert Lea and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his parent’s-in-law,and a special cousin Priscilla Mutschler who lived with his family as a child.
“Swampy” as he was affectionately called by family and friends alike,
was a treasure to all whose lives he touched.