Virgil Theophil Bening was born October 23, 1944, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, to Sidney Valentine Bening and Rosa Ida (Bornfleth) Bening. He died at home in Claremore, Oklahoma, on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at the age of 78 years. At the age of 13, he began school at Concordia College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, completing his high school education and junior college education there. From there Virgil went to Concordia College in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for senior college, followed by two years at Concordia Seminary in Springfield, Illinois. He then began his 1-year vicarage at Faith Lutheran Church in Denver, Colorado, where he met and married his wife, Carolyn. Virgil was united in marriage to Carolyn Jean Carstens on August 23, 1969, at Faith Lutheran Church in Denver, Colorado. Virgil finished his final year of seminary and was ordained as a minister into the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod at his home congregation, Zion Lutheran in Burnett, Wisconsin. He was installed at Zion Lutheran Church in Claflin, Kansas, in July 1970, serving there until August 1979. He accepted a call in September to Faith Lutheran Church in Prescott, Michigan, serving there until his retirement in October of 2004.
Virgil enjoyed fishing, making stained glass items, and doing handyman projects, as well as attending various concerts and musical events, and spending time with his family.
Those he leaves behind who hold many cherished memories include his loving wife Carolyn, of over 53 years; daughter Brenda Matasovsky and husband Steve, of Jackson, Minnesota; son Jarrod Bening and wife Denyse of Cedar Springs, Michigan; grandchildren Sarah Matasovsky, Jayson Matasovsky, and Alexys Bening; brother Curtis Bening and wife Elaine, of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. He was preceded in death by his parents.
The funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Christ The Redeemer Lutheran Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Final resting place will be at Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery in Adair, Oklahoma. Arrangements and services were entrusted to Mowery Funeral Service of Owasso.
