Funeral services for Benjamin Harold Mouw, age 89, of Albert Lea, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 28, 2011, at Salem Lutheran Church. The Rev. Mark Niethammer will officiate. Interment will be at Graceland Cemetery with military honors accorded by area veterans organizations. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. To sign the guest book, go to www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Benjamin died Tuesday, April 19, 2011, at Good Samaritan Society.

Benjamin Harold Mouw was born on Jan. 22, 1922, in Sioux Center, Iowa, to Ben and Hatti (Ramaker) Mouw. He grew up on a farm in Sioux Center and attended school there. After high school he went on to business college in Sioux City, Iowa, for two years. Ben served his country in the United States Navy during World War II as a radioman. On Dec. 11, 1948, Ben was united in marriage to Margaret E. Dahl in San Francisco, Calif. The couple returned to Minnesota, and Ben was employed at Michael’s Restaurant in Rochester as a bartender retiring in 1987. He enjoyed spending his retirement at his lake cabin. Ben was a past member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Nevis and currently a member of Salem Lutheran Church. He was also a member of the American Legion and Eagles Club. Ben was an avid fisherman and hunter. In his spare time Ben also enjoyed watching sports on TV, gardening, playing cards and spending time with his family.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret (Marge) Mouw; daughter, Tonya Mouw; granddaughter, Nicoletta Neddermeyer; brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Orvin and Ernestine Mouw; sister and brother-in-law, Faye and Vern Huisman; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Mouw, Wilma Mouw, Marvel Dahl and Donna Dahl; sister and brother-in-law, Jewel and Chester Dahl.

Benjamin was preceded in death by his parents; brother and sister-in-law, Steven and Virginia Mouw; sisters and brothers-in-law, Berniece and Ed Rozeboom, Madeline and Gerrit Gesink; brothers, Lawrence Mouw and Calvin Mouw; sisters and brothers-in-law, Martha and Melroy Nelson, Arthur and Lorraine Dahl, Selma and Henry Bakken, Omar Dahl and John Dahl.

Memorials are preferred to Salem Lutheran Church and Good Samaritan Society.