Benhard Flaagan, age 93, resident of Lakota, ND formerly rural Pekin , ND died Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at the Nelson County Health System – Hospital in McVille , ND . Benhard was born April 27, 1914 near Pekin , ND the son of Martin and Gina (Thorson) Flaagan. He grew up and was educated in the Pekin and Tolna , ND area and was confirmed at the Sigdal Lutheran Church . Benhard started farming and in 1946 he bought his maternal grandfathers farm near Pekin . On December 18, 1948 he married Viola Anderson in Devils Lake , ND . After their marriage they continued to live and farm near Pekin until moving into Lakota in 2007. Benhard enjoyed the peace and quiet of the farm; he spent more than 75 years farming. He was active with the Farmers Union, Pekin Elevator and Sigdal Lutheran Church . Benhard had a wonderful sense of humor and will be missed by many.

Surviving members of the family are his wife Viola Flaagan of Lakota, ND; son Duane (Becky) Flaagan of rural Pekin, ND; daughter Laurel (Gary) Petrone of Hillsboro, IL; grandson Alex; brother Amos Kenneth (Connie) Flaagan of Fargo, ND; two sisters Amie (Clayton) Aaser of McVille, ND and Irene Spidahl of Kenyon, MN; sister-in-law Lilah Hermanson of McVille, ND and brother-in-law Raleigh (Molfried) Anderson of Grand Forks, ND.

Benhard was preceded in death by his parents; son Bennett; sister Erva Spidahl and three brothers Gilman Flaagan, Gordon Stewart Flaagan and Gordon Marvin Flaagan; brother-in-law Glenn Hermanson; sister-in-laws Aleda (Edward) Snortland and Agnes Blankenship.

Funeral services for Benhard will be Friday, February 29, 2008 at 11:00 AM in the Sigdal Lutheran Church , rural Tolna , ND.  Officiating will be the Reverend David Nichols.   Special music by Stacy Lund.  Interment will be in the Sigdal Church Cemetery . Visitation will be Thursday, February 28, 2008 from 4PM to 7PM in the Stanley-Iverson Funeral Home and one hour prior to services in the church. Arrangements with the Stanley-Iverson Funeral Home of McVille.