A Celebration of Life service to honor the life and legacy of Sharon Benda, age 82, of Alpha, will be held at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Jackson on Monday, September 8th at 11:00 AM, with a time of visitation and gathering from 9:30-11:00 AM. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Jackson.

Sharon passed away on Friday, August 29, 2025, at the Sanford Medical Center in Jackson.

Sharon Faye Benda was born on January 2, 1943, in Williston, North Dakota to the late Ernest Byron and Doris Irene (Kruger) Brevik. She was baptized as an infant at the First Lutheran Church in Williston and later confirmed in that same church. Sharon received her education in the Williston Public Schools and then went onto Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota where she received her BS Degree in Education.

After college, Sharon moved to Jackson where she was a 2nd grade teacher at Jackson Public Schools for a couple years. Art's youngest sister Mern was one of her students and "somehow", Art and Sharon met, too. On July 15,1967, Sharon was united in marriage to Arthur "Art" Benda, Jr. at Williston, N.D. After marriage they lived on the farm in rural Alpha for 58 years. Sharon soon became a full-time homemaker, bookkeeper, and other help on the farm, working alongside Art for over 40 years until she was not able to do as much due to her declining health. Sharon was a hard worker, including rock picking, chopping corn stalks, cleaning barn offices, etc. and all aspects of running the farm business from their home office.

Sharon will be remembered for being very caring, having a positive attitude, a good listener, loving, supportive, and a loyal friend. Sharon liked to read and enjoyed doing some sewing projects. In recent years, she enjoyed playing word games/puzzles on the computer. Sharon and Art enjoyed sprint car races in Jackson, which led to many Knoxville races and traveling to other tracks/races in numerous states around the country. For many years, on their wedding anniversary, Art and Sharon would go to whatever play was performing at the Okoboji Summer Theatre, it was their traditional way to celebrate the occasion. They did most of everything together as a couple-they were a true team, very loving and supportive of each other. They were seldom apart from each other.

Sharon and Art were members of the Jackson County Pork Producers and traveled to many trade shows and events related to pork production and farming. They were also longtime, faithful members of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Jackson. Art and Sharon made several trips to Lutheran Relief in the cities to deliver quilts made by OSLC workshop group and taught some release time classes too. Sharon had a strong faith in God and trusted He would always take care of her, especially in these past several years of health issues. She never lost hope that she would regain strength in her legs. She is now in Heaven with her angel wings instead.

Sharon is survived by her husband of fifty-eight years, Art Benda of Alpha; sister, Carol Brevik of Taos, NM; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Chuck (Carol) Benda of Slayton, Dorothy Benda of Jackson, Karen (Doug) Olson of Buckeye, AZ, Sharon "Mern" Benda of Goodyear, AZ; special friends, Wayne and Linda Torgerson of Milford, IA; as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Sharon is preceded in death by her parents, parents-in-law, Arthur Sr. and Blanche Benda, brothers-in-laws, Don Benda, and  Richard Benda, and partner of Carol Brevik, James Andersen.

Blessed be the memory of Sharon Faye Benda.