James "Jim" R. Bennis Sr.

James R. �Jim� Bennis Sr., age 81, of Hastings died April 5, 2011 at his residence.Jim was born December 17, 1929 inMinneapolis to Joseph and Fern (Nebel) Bennis. He married LaDonna Huss on January 31, 1948 in St.Paul. She died in 1990. He married Julie Crane on March 14, 1999 in Hawaii. Jim was a 1947 graduate of Monroe High School in St. Paul. He was a retired longtime Koch refinery employee. Jim�s family was central to his life and he loved spending time at his cabin in McGregor. Jim was passionate about giving his time to help others. He had 35 years of recovery and was active with A.A. and Al Anon. Jim was preceded in death by hisfirst wife LaDonna; sons Joe and Jim Jr. He is survived by his wife Julie Crane; children Jackie Swanson of Hastings, Scott (Kari) Bennis of Empire, Gary (Ann) Bennis of Eau Claire, Wisc., Greg Bennis of Inver Grove Heights ,Gwen (Larry) Biglow of White Bear Lake, Wendy (Scott) Latuff, and Jeffrey (Rebecca) Johnson both of Hastings; grandchildren Joe Jr., and Brian Bennis, Jamie Nawrocki, Jenny Mahoney, Ryan, Chad, Casey, and Danielle Swanson, Jack Bennis, Elizabeth Lang, Josh, Jeremy, Hannah, Isaiah, Lydia, Emily, Charles, Charlotte, Jonathan, and Ellie Bennis, Mike and Rachel Latuff, and Ashley Johnson Brandstrom; great-grandchildren Ava, Audrey, Mikaylah, Lyla, and Claire; siblings Dolly Sims andJohn LeFleur both of Apple Valley, Calif., and Bob LeFleur of Hayden, Idaho. The Funeral Service, officiated by Rev. Dorothy Sandahl and Rev. Lloyd Menke will be 11 A.M. Friday, April 8, 2011 at Our Saviour�s Ev. Lutheran Church, 400 West Ninth Street,Hastings. The visitation will be held from 4-8 P.M. Thursday, April 7, 2011 at Caturia-Smidt Funeral Home, 201 EastSeventh Street, Hastings, and also one hour prior to the service at church. Pallbearers are Jeremy Bennis, Joe Bennis, Ryan Swanson, Jamie Nawrocki, Isaiah Bennis, and Chad Swanson; Honorary Pallbearers are Tibor Kovacs, Bill Gruden, Harvey Sandahl, John Larsen, Dale Sherman, and George Ross. Interment will be at a later date at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to Hastings Family Service or Salvation Army.