Hilda was born January 22, 1928 on the family farm in Douglas, ND to Ed and Esther (Anderson) Benson. She went to school in a one room schoolhouse. Hilda talked about how she and her cousin would ride their horses to confirmation class.
She moved to Minot with her parents, got a job at a drugstore and met her future husband serving ice cream.
She and Charles Lewis Vandelicht married in Minot, then packed up and drove to Missouri for their new life. Hilda stated when they drove up the road to her groom’s home he honked the horn the whole way announcing their arrival! He was excited to introduce his bride to his family! From this happy union four children were added. Joyce Lee, Charles Wayne, Hazel Ellen and Charlotte Sue. Hilda was 6 months pregnant with Charlotte when the family was traveling in the car and they had an accident that took the life of her husband.
Hilda moved her young family from Missouri to Minot, ND. Several years later she married LeRoy Nielsen in Minot. LeRoy was widowed and had one daughter, Carmen Jean. The two families became one. Hilda and LeRoy had two children together. Cindy Lou and LeRoy Scott. The bond that was formed between the in-laws of the Vandelicht family and the Nielsen children has remained strong all these years later.
Hilda was widowed again in 2005 after 45 years together. Hilda had a hunger for The Lord. For over 50 years (most likely longer) you could find her reading her Bible in the early morning hours at the kitchen table or most recently in her sewing room. She prayed for everyone she knew every single day and would let you know you were prayed for! Hilda lived a very active life and drove up until she no longer needed to. Hilda was cared for by Hazel (baby number 3) residing in Minot. The kindness shown to our Mother by Hazel is soothing to the soul.
Hilda is survived by her children: Joyce (Barry) Bezenek, Charles (Mavis) Vandelicht, Hazel Hughes, Charlotte (Terry) Lang, Cindy Jarmin, Scott (Kathy) Nielsen; grandchildren Troy (Myranda) Hughes, Todd (Sara) Hughes, Harry Hughes J.R., Kris (Melody) Bezenek, Micah (Carri) Delosier, Joshua Nygard, Jessie (Jon) Blomquist, Jared (Stacie) Jarmin, Jaime (Deniz) Comez, Justine Jarmin; great-grandchildren Addyson and Ty Vandelicht Hughes, Marcus Hughes, Ava, Josie and Zach Hughes, Alana, Mackenzie, Hope, Micah and Gabriel Delosier, Mia Bezenek, Rachel Pavlat, Eden Jarmin, Ari Marc Comez; brother-in-law John (Jay) Vandelicht and sisters-in-law Joyce Nielsen and Louise Nielsen.
Those who went to Heaven first and met our precious mother at her homecoming include her parents Ed and Esther (Anderson) Benson, husbands Charles Lewis Vandelicht and LeRoy Nielsen, all of her siblings, Sylvia, Belinda, Eloise and Theodore, and Carmen Delosier, granddaughter Michelle Delosier, great-grandson Alexander Hughes and sons-in-law Marc L. Jarmin and Harry D. Hughes.
Celebration of Life for Hilda: Friday, November 3rd, 2023 at 1:00 pm at the River of Life Church, 400 22nd Ave NW, Minot, ND 58703. Services to be officiated by Pastor Cory Rice.
Interment: Steedman Cemetery, Steedman, MO at a later date.
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