Troy R. Benson

“BLAME IT ALL ON MY ROOTS, I SHOWED UP IN BOOTS”

Troy Robert Benson, age 52, of Watertown SD was called to his heavenly home on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at Prairie Lakes Hospital after an extended illness.  Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Watertown.  Pastor Janine Rew-Werling and Pastor Craig Werling will officiate.  Music will be provided by Dorothy Fuller as organist with the congregation singing. The funeral service will be live-streamed via our website.

Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, from 5 to 7 pm and prior to the services at the church on Wednesday.

Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Watertown.  Honorary pallbearers will be the stock car racing family.   Active pallbearers will be:  Ron Anderson, Tyler Johnson, Troy Lehl, Trent Daly, Steve Sheehan, Chad Bartells, Brian Johnson and Ryan Linke.

Troy was born on April 6, 1971, in Watertown to Earl Benson and Donna (Redlin) Jorgenson.  He attended St. Martin’s Lutheran School, graduated from Watertown High School in 1989 and furthered his education by attending Dakota State University in Madison, SD.

He returned to Watertown and became a sales associate at Bob Hayes Ford, Sheehan Cycle, Evolution Power Sports, AFLAC and was currently employed at J. H. Larson Company.

In 1978, the family purchased Casino Speedway and he worked as track official and decided to participate in the sport as a race car driver.  He brought the awareness of Juvenile Diabetes to racing asking drivers to display the JDRF sticker on their race car and support through fund raisers.   He became the announcer in 2000 and retired from announcing in 2017.  His accomplishments as an announcer made him known and respected by the fans and drivers in the racing community.  He continued to follow the sport as you could find him and his friends at the big racing events in the area.

Troy was an accomplished bowler as he and his dad would travel to tournaments around the area and national events.  In the summer months you could find them on the golf course playing their favorite sport.

Troy was the type of person you never forgot as he could make you feel good with his humor and his ability to make you laugh….his positive and encouraging presence always lifted everyone’s spirits.

Troy loved life and his family.  He was extremely proud of his daughter, Camryn.  No matter where he was, he always had time to place a telephone call to both his parents.

Troy is survived by his daughter, Camryn, his father Earl, his mother and step-father, Donna (Kerry) Jorgenson, daughter Kierstin; step-son, Darin, granddaughter, Braelyn, all of Watertown, SD; 2 step-brothers: Jason Paul of Greendale, WI and Tyler Johnson, Watertown; step-grandfather, Kenny Jorgenson, Aberdeen, SD; and several uncles and aunts, nieces, nephews, and cousins.  He is also survived by his special friend, Twyla Fossum and her family.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Sonya Benson, his step-mother, Sandy Benson, his maternal grandparents, Harold and LilaFern Redlin, his paternal grandparents, Claire and Winnie Fisk.

God bless the memories each of us has of him and how he touched us in some small way, and may we remember them as we move forward in our lives.

Troy, we love you

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