Michael Timothy Bennett

Michael Timothy Bennett, 64, passed from this life into the next with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 7, 2025. He was born February 3, 1961 to LeRoy and Elaine Bennett in Red Wing, MN. 

He graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1979 whereupon he enlisted in the United States Navy for two tours of duty as a submariner specializing in electronics and communication systems. He continued in this field in the private sector in Connecticut until returning back to Pierce County in the 1990’s. He merged his skills in electronics and as an amateur musician as the facilities/stage manager of the Sheldon Theater in Red Wing for many years followed by becoming director of maintenance and facility management at Prescott Nursing and Rehab, doing his part to deal with the COVID pandemic. He held various interim jobs in the Red Wing area and retired in 2023.

Mike enjoyed performing on his harmonica and guitar for local nursing homes. Mike had many and varied interests including building miniature models and background for his toy train set, collecting musical instruments and antique record players, drumming, gardening and preserving, beekeeping, raising chickens, history, and studying the Bible. He loved nature and animals and enjoyed his home which was a former one room school in rural Bay City. He had a succession of yellow labradors, most recently Molly who he left behind. He loved his home and his life and was grateful to the Lord every day for what he had. He met the challenges of life with his favorite Bible verse “Consider it pure joy….when you face trials of many kinds.” (James 1:2-4)

He is survived by sister Nancy Fredericks of Madison WI, niece Danielle (Mitch) Mandelkow and their daughter Raelyn of Red Wing MN, nephew Ben (Brooke) Bennett and their son Briggs of Cottage Grove MN. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Robert Bennett, and brother-in-law Tod Fredericks.

Visitation will be at O’Connell’s River Falls funeral home on October 14 at 11:30 AM with a memorial service to follow there at noon. Interment will be at 1 PM at St. Paul’s UCC cemetery in Ellsworth.

Arrangements are entrusted to O’Connell Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ellsworth. For more information or to share a memory, please visit www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com or call 715-273-4421.