Benson High School Alumni
Benson, Minnesota (MN)
Recent Members
| Gary Gary Thomas | 1963 |
| Jean M Jean M Johnson | 1962 |
| Jeff Tise | 1974 |
| John Kavanaugh | 1970 |
| Kaitlin Engleson | 2004 |
| Kathleen Goggin | 1961 |
| Linda Mclaughlin | 1961 |
| Michael Bouressa | 1983 |
Military Alumni
Honoring Our Heroes
This area is dedicated to our alumni that have served or are serving in our armed forces!
Lost Class Rings
Have you lost your Benson High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Braves lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni
bradley j. laurant
Class of 1971
Navy, 20+ Years
cheif electronics technichian onboard submarines
Class of 1971
Navy, 20+ Years
cheif electronics technichian onboard submarines
Brianna (Vollan) Jensen
Class of 2003
National Guard, 9 Years
Food Service Specialist, Truck Driver, HVAC Specialist
Class of 2003
National Guard, 9 Years
Food Service Specialist, Truck Driver, HVAC Specialist
Dan Tengwall
Class of 2002
National Guard, 8 Years
Enlisted in the MN National Guard in 2001 during my junior year at BHS. Completed ROTC while at Gustavus Adolphus College and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenent in May '06. Currently a First Lieutenent serving in C BTRY, 1-151FA during OIF 9.3 as a Platoon Leader (Morris, MN Field Artillery Battery).
Class of 2002
National Guard, 8 Years
Enlisted in the MN National Guard in 2001 during my junior year at BHS. Completed ROTC while at Gustavus Adolphus College and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenent in May '06. Currently a First Lieutenent serving in C BTRY, 1-151FA during OIF 9.3 as a Platoon Leader (Morris, MN Field Artillery Battery).
David Johnsen
Class of 1962
Navy, 20+ Years
Served on active duty for 32 years and 10 years in the Naval Reserve. I was a Hospital Corpsman with Marines in Viet Nam 68-69. I retired as the Command Master Chief of NAS, Atlanta, GA
Class of 1962
Navy, 20+ Years
Served on active duty for 32 years and 10 years in the Naval Reserve. I was a Hospital Corpsman with Marines in Viet Nam 68-69. I retired as the Command Master Chief of NAS, Atlanta, GA
Dennis "Skip" Cleland
Class of 1964
Air Force, 4 Years
Served from 1966-1970 in Goose Bay, Labrador (SAC base) and Topeka, Ks.
Class of 1964
Air Force, 4 Years
Served from 1966-1970 in Goose Bay, Labrador (SAC base) and Topeka, Ks.
DENNIS GRUSSING
Class of 1966
Army, 4 Years
Served 1 year in DaNang Vietnan and 1 1/2 years in Hanau Germany
Class of 1966
Army, 4 Years
Served 1 year in DaNang Vietnan and 1 1/2 years in Hanau Germany
James Gorres
Class of 1981
National Guard, 20+ Years
1SG, US Army Engineer Instructor, Iraq 2007
Class of 1981
National Guard, 20+ Years
1SG, US Army Engineer Instructor, Iraq 2007
John Vergin
Class of 1996
Navy, 5 Years
I was a Petty Officer Second Class and my rate was Electrician's Mate. After finishing boot camp and A school, I did 2 years at sea in Hawaii on the USS Frederick and then 2 years of shore duty at Naval Reserve Center Bangor WA.
Class of 1996
Navy, 5 Years
I was a Petty Officer Second Class and my rate was Electrician's Mate. After finishing boot camp and A school, I did 2 years at sea in Hawaii on the USS Frederick and then 2 years of shore duty at Naval Reserve Center Bangor WA.
Larry Herbert Erickson
Class of 1966
Navy, 30 Years
Master Chief Hospital Corpsman
Vietnam Veteran, Command Master Chief
Class of 1966
Navy, 30 Years
Master Chief Hospital Corpsman
Vietnam Veteran, Command Master Chief
Michael Manley
Class of 1971
Army, 20+ Years
Retired Military, enjoyed most teaching at an ROTC assignment at Clarion University, Clarion, PA.
Class of 1971
Army, 20+ Years
Retired Military, enjoyed most teaching at an ROTC assignment at Clarion University, Clarion, PA.
Rod Rice
Class of 1973
Air Force, 20+ Years
I was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1977 at North Dakota State University and served 22 years on active duty. I retired in 1999 in the grade of lieutenant colonel.
Class of 1973
Air Force, 20+ Years
I was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1977 at North Dakota State University and served 22 years on active duty. I retired in 1999 in the grade of lieutenant colonel.
Steve Weiss
Class of 1980
Air Force, 20+ Years
Began my service as a teletype operator-communications center operator for 2 years in the U.K. Then was the head telephone switchboard operator at a tiny radar site in Upper Michigan for 2 years. I then trained into the Ground Radio Maintenance career field and spent the greater part of the next 16 years either repairing radios, as a quality control inspector, or a logistic support troop, in New Mexico, Japan, California, South Korea, and Georgia. I managed to keep my rank and security clearance the entire 20 years I was in...I was a good boy!
Class of 1980
Air Force, 20+ Years
Began my service as a teletype operator-communications center operator for 2 years in the U.K. Then was the head telephone switchboard operator at a tiny radar site in Upper Michigan for 2 years. I then trained into the Ground Radio Maintenance career field and spent the greater part of the next 16 years either repairing radios, as a quality control inspector, or a logistic support troop, in New Mexico, Japan, California, South Korea, and Georgia. I managed to keep my rank and security clearance the entire 20 years I was in...I was a good boy!
Steve Weiss
Class of 1980
Air Force, 20+ Years
After Benson High School graduation, I entered active duty in the Air Force with my first station at Lackland AFB, TX to attend Basic Training. After 6 weeks there, I moved to Sheppard AFB, TX to attend my first technical training. My first duty station was RAF Alconbury, UK for 2 years. From there I spent 2.5 years at Calumet Air Force Station in Upper Michigan. I followed that assignment by retraining to a different career field and attending my second technical training school at Keesler AFB, MS. Upon graduation, I was assigned to Holloman AFB, NM for 4 years. After that time, my next move was to Misawa Air Base, Japan for 4 more years. I returned to the Sacramento, CA area, McClellan AFB, to spend another 4 years, and followed by 2 years at Osan Air Base, Korea, then my retirement assignment for a single year at Fort Benning, GA. I wish I had more time in Europe, but the 20 years was truly memorable.
Class of 1980
Air Force, 20+ Years
After Benson High School graduation, I entered active duty in the Air Force with my first station at Lackland AFB, TX to attend Basic Training. After 6 weeks there, I moved to Sheppard AFB, TX to attend my first technical training. My first duty station was RAF Alconbury, UK for 2 years. From there I spent 2.5 years at Calumet Air Force Station in Upper Michigan. I followed that assignment by retraining to a different career field and attending my second technical training school at Keesler AFB, MS. Upon graduation, I was assigned to Holloman AFB, NM for 4 years. After that time, my next move was to Misawa Air Base, Japan for 4 more years. I returned to the Sacramento, CA area, McClellan AFB, to spend another 4 years, and followed by 2 years at Osan Air Base, Korea, then my retirement assignment for a single year at Fort Benning, GA. I wish I had more time in Europe, but the 20 years was truly memorable.
Alumni Stories
Read and submit stories about our classmates from Benson High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Braves.
School News
Passing of 1942 class member Marjorie Boyd Martin
My mother Marge passed away in April in Ashland OR at the age of 88. She was an honor student in the 1942 class, and att...
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Our Benson High School military alumni are some of the most outstanding people we know and this page recognizes them and everything they have done! Not everyone gets to come home for the holidays and we want our Benson High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Benson are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!