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Clifford “Cliff” Floyd Benjamin, age 87, of Laporte, Minnesota passed peacefully with his family by his side at Sanford Medical Center in Bemidji, Minnesota on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Cliff was born to Erma (Jennie) and Floyd Benjamin on Tuesday, April 12th, 1938, in Cass Lake, MN
Cliff graduated from Cass Lake High School in 1956, the same year he proudly enlisted in the United States Navy Seabees, where he served from 1956 to 1960. After completing his active duty, he continued his service in the Naval Reserves until 1962.
On January 12, 1963, he married the love of his life, Carole, and together they built a life centered around family and hard work. Throughout his life, Cliff was known as a hardworking man who took pride in everything he did. Over the years he worked as a mechanic, logger, and salesman, eventually retiring from O’Reilly Auto Parts in Cass Lake, where he was well known and respected by customers and coworkers alike.
He enjoyed a full and active life and had many passions. Cliff loved attending gun shows, collecting firearms, and spending time hunting, fishing, and camping. He was always tinkering and fixing things, a skill that came naturally to him. One of his unique hobbies was collecting lawn mowers, and he was rarely seen without his favorite Western shows. Cliff was also an avid garage saler, always on the lookout for a good find.
Cliff enjoyed gardening, growing flowers, and baking homemade apple pies from apples he grew himself. He loved sitting down to play hand poker and spending time with his loyal dog, Ruger.
He will be remembered for his hardworking spirit, his many talents, and the simple joys he found in life. Cliff’s presence will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
Family that Cliff has reunited with are his wife, Carole; sons, David and Robert; parents, Erma and Floyd; sisters, Sandra and Joyce; grandchildren, Travis, Roger and Brandi; and his son-in-law, Dave.
He leaves behind his sons, Tim Benjamin and Richard “Rich” (Terri) Benjamin; daughters, Elizabeth LeDoux, Dawn and Tracey Benjamin; sisters, Joan and Kathy; grandchildren, Alex (Denise), Nic (Missy), Brandon, Robbie, Ciarra (Kalvin Sr.) and Joseph, 16 great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Cliff will be held on Tuesday, March 17th, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the White Earth Family Center in Cass Lake, MN (old American Legion) with a one-hour visitation to begin at 10:00 a.m. Pastor Dave Yates will officiate. Helping to lay Cliff to rest are Dan Morris, Jr., Kalvin Howard, Sr., Joel Pemberton, Tom Stangel, Ciarra Howard, and Alex Benjamin-Norton. His honorary pallbearers are Dan “Sonny” Morris, Sr., all his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Interment will be in the Pine Grove Cemetery at Cass Lake, MN immediately following services.
Cliff’s care has been entrusted to Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker, MN. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.northernpeace.com
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