Selda Benishek

Memorial services for Selda Benishek of Long Prairie (formerly of Bertha) will be held in the Spring of 2015, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bartlett Township. Mrs. Benishek died at the age of 87 years on August 23, 2014 at Centra Care Health in Long Prairie. Selda Rosalina and her Siamese twin sister, Elda Minna, were born January 8, 1927 in McLeod County, MN to Ferdinand and Lydia (Schuft) Alsleben of New Auburn. The babies were joined together at the abdomen and liver. On March 1, 1927, Dr. Hillard H. Holm successfully performed surgery at Glencoe Hospital in Glencoe, MN, and separated the two infants. Elda died July 29, 1936, of a heart defect. Selda moved with her family to a rural Grey Eagle farm in 1939. She graduated from 8th grade at Greenwood School in Round Prairie Township. At age 17, she moved with a girlfriend to Chicago, IL. She worked at various jobs until going to work at Hot Point. There she met Bernard (Ben) Benishek. They were married Oct. 16, 1948, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Long Prairie Township. They lived and worked in Chicago until moving to Waukegan, IL. Their next move was to Long Prairie, MN, where she worked for a time at the Ben Franklin store. They lived in Hopkins for a time before moving to a farm in Bartlett Township. Following the death of her husband, she sold the farm and moved to an apartment in Bertha. She was employed at Homecrest in Wadena until retiring July 1, 1994. She resided for several years at Bertha Manor Apartments. In March of 2014, she became a resident of Centra Care Health in Long Prairie. Selda was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Bartlett Township, Immanuel Ladies Aid, Bertha and Hewitt Senior Centers, Hewitt Historical Society, TCCA, the What-knot Club and Bertha Lionesses. She enjoyed gardening, playing cards and quilting. Selda was preceded in death by her husband Ben on July 21, 1993; parents F.W and Lydia Alsleben; sisters Siamese twin Elda and Lorna Loges; brother Milo Alsleben; and foster brother Clarence Braband. Survivors include brothers Darvin (Jeanette) Alsleben of Long Prairie, Orrin (Rose) Alsleben of Winthrop, and Larry (Bonnie) Alsleben of Grey Eagle; sisters Delaine Lindberg of Clearwater, MN, Melva (Robert) Jensen of Seattle, WA, and Paulette (Loren) Johnson of Long Prairie; special nephew Jim (Nan) Curran of Lake Mills, WI, and many, many nieces and nephews. More information will be available at a later date.

Selda Benishek

January 8, 1927 - August 23, 2014