May 9, 1934 — September 27, 2021
A funeral service was held at 2 p.m. on Sept. 30, 2021, at First Lutheran Church in Algona with Reverend Dave Grindberg officiating. Burial was held in East Lawn Cemetery. Visitation was held from 12 to 2 p.m. on Sept. 30 at First Lutheran Church in Algona.
Lyle Willard Bensen was born on May 9, 1934, in Ringsted, the only son of Roy and Florence (Nelson) Bensen. He was baptized and confirmed in the St. John’s Lutheran Church. He graduated from Ringsted High School in 1952 and from Reisch School of Auctioneering in Mason City.
Lyle’s career of farming was interrupted by a call to serve in the army from 1957-1959.
In 1960, Lyle was united in marriage to Diane Fischer, a Ringsted teacher.
He found success and pleasure in life as a landowner, auctioneer, and a lifetime cattleman. He served as an auctioneer in the following sale barns: Armstrong, Truman, Algona, Storm Lake, Sioux Center, Fort Dodge, Bloomfield, Wesley, Sheldon, Garner, Emmetsburg and Spencer.
Lyle was a member of the Ringsted Presbyterian Church for 42 years and joined the Algona First Lutheran Church in May of 2003, when he and his wife Diane moved to Algona.
In his retirement, Lyle became a voracious reader of inspirational books and took pride in caring for his lawn and property.
Lyle died Sept. 27 at Windsor Manor in Algona. He was 87.
He is survived by nieces and nephews, David (Marci) Sabin of Menagha, Minn., Peg (Dave) Skilling of Algona, Sandi Mueller of Penn Valley, Calif., Ron (Carmeen) Pertl of Indianapolis, Ind., Mary (Dan) Laffey of Birmingham, Ala., Jane (Kevin) Naig of Columbia, S.C.; and many friends.
Preceding him in death are his parents; wife Diane; and sisters Leona Sabin and Leila Pertl.
The Touch of the Masters Hand
“Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin, but held it up with a smile; “What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried, “Who’ll start the bidding for me?” “A dollar, a dollar”; then two!” “Only two? Two dollars, and who’ll make it three? Three dollars, once; three dollars twice; going for three.” But no, from the room, far back, a gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow; Then, wiping the dust from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings, he played a melody
pure and sweet as caroling angel sings.
The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low, said; “What am I bid for the old violin?” And he held it up with the bow. A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two? Two thousand! And who’ll make it three? Three thousand, once, three thousand twice, and going and gone,” said he. The people cheered, but some of them cried, “We do not quite understand what changed its worth.” Swift came the reply: “The touch
of a master’s hand.”
And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin. Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin, A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine; a game - and he travels on. “He is going” once, and “going twice, He’s going and almost gone.” But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd never can quite understand the worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought by the touch of the Master’s hand.”
-Myra ‘Brooks’ Welch