Dennis Melvin Benson, Sr., age 73, of Dodgeville, passed peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, May 30, 2026. He passed following returning battles with cancer over the past few years.
Dennis was born in St Joseph’s hospital in Dodgeville on January 12, 1953, to Melvin and Alice (Hocking) Benson. Dennis grew up in southern Wisconsin and graduated from Platteville High School in 1972 and later received a degree in appliance certification from Southwest Technical College in Fennimore in 1976. After two previous marriages, he was married on August 10, 1990, to Laura (Carley) at Grace Lutheran Church in Dodgeville. He held several farm-hand jobs, worked for family on farms and at Weygant’s Appliance in Platteville, served as a Ranch hand on a reservation in his time living in Montana, worked for the City of Dodgeville until his retirement and then has done work for Dodgeville Auto for a period after as well as odd-jobs and helping others whenever possible since. He has also served with the Sons of the American Legion in Darlington and briefly taught Hunter Safety Education in Dodgeville.
Dennis was known for always having something to do. He kept himself busy with helping others, improving on things he felt that needed to be improved on and having a “right now” attitude to the time frame of doing them. Dennis was known for his “dad-jokes” and harmless teasing of anyone that could be subject to it. In his younger years, Dennis always wanted to be a cowboy and would wear his cowboy hat and boots. (One time, his sister shared that he even held them all hostage in their home with a bow and arrow.) In addition to partying at the “M”, bike riding, reading his Louis L’Amour books, horseback riding and Beowulf parties, he enjoyed hunting/fishing and working on vehicles. Later years saw him helping take care of his wife Laura during her illnesses as well as “meeting with the minds” for coffee every morning at the Red Room and knowing someone to stop and talk with no matter where he went.
Dennis enjoyed spending time with family and grew a bit “softer” in his older years as the multiple grandchildren and “adopted” grandchildren were around more. He also liked when people would stop over and enjoyed taking Scooby with him for rides to get him out of the house.
Dennis was preceded in death by his grandparents William and Iva (Champion) Hocking; father Melvin Benson; mother and step-father Alice (Hocking) and Richard Weygant; father-in-law Richard Carley; sister-in-law Sue Dickinson; son David Clauer; and granddaughter, Kaylee Schroeder. He is survived by his ever faithful companion, Scooby; mother-in-law, Anna A Lynch; siblings: Donna (Dave) Gough, Nancy (Ryan) Berg, Mike (BeLinda) Weygant, Linda (Kerry) Lisney; in-laws: Bruce and Mary Lease, Linda Long, Roy Lynch, Patricia Lynch, Rich Carley; children: Dennis M Benson, Jr., Crystal Benson, Jaclyn Hauser, Daniel (Hollis Books) Clauer, Joshua (Heather) Clauer, Sara (Kenny) McCluskey; as well as many grand-children and great-grandchildren and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and many “adopted” grandchildren.
A public visitation will be held on Sunday, June 7, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at the Lulloff-Peterson-Houck Funeral Home in Dodgeville. A time of sharing will be held at 12:30 p.m. with burial to be conducted at a later date. Friends are welcome to join the family at Red Room following the time of sharing. In honor of Dennis and his cowboy soul, please wear any cowboy hats, boots, or other items of western clothing. Online condolences may be made at www.houckfuneralhomes.com.
The family would like to thank Agrace staff and his doctors for all of their wonderful care.
Lulloff-Peterson-Houck
Funeral Home
Dodgeville – 608-935-3628
www.houckfuneralhomes.com