Marlin "Ben" S. Bendickson

Marlin “Ben” Sherman Bendickson, of Watertown, MA, formerly of Bristol, CT, died on May 18, 2024, after a brief illness. Ben was born on February 28, 1935, in Sisseton, South Dakota, to Lawrence and Mary (Solin) Bendickson. Ben grew up in a tiny house with his parents and three siblings: Duwayne, Carmen, and Joanne. He graduated from Sisseton High School in 1953, and served in the US Army until 1957. He then went to work for Edison Brothers Shoes as a salesman. In 1960, Margaret “Peg” Clatts started shopping weekly at the store where Ben worked in New York. After selling many pairs of new shoes to Peg over the course of several weeks, Ben asked her out. They got married in 1962 and their daughter, Suzanne, was born in 1964. The family lived in Melrose, MA; West Haven, CT; Wolcott, CT; and Bristol, CT. Peg passed away in 1994. In 2002, Ben married Jean Lemanquois, who passed away in 2009. Ben continued to live in his beloved home in Bristol until he moved to an assisted living residence in Watertown, MA, to be closer to his daughter and her family in 2020. Ben worked for Edison Brothers until 1994, when he “retired” at age 59. He started volunteering as a delivery person for Meals on Wheels, and was quickly hired as Area Coordinator, a position he held until the age of 85. During his 25-year second career with Meals on Wheels, Ben also  volunteered with the Elks Lodge, Polish Club, and Knights of Columbus, and went to the gym every day. Ben was a bingo caller two nights a week for many years; in fact, he met his second wife Jean at bingo. He had many friends in Bristol, who continued to keep in contact with him after his move to Massachusetts. Ben enjoyed watching Boston sports on television, calling bingo (continuing at his assisted living residence, where he ran games three days a week), and reading the Boston Globe and exercising daily. Ben was incredibly optimistic, friendly, and loving. He took pride in “keeping [my] mind and body active.” Throughout health setbacks in 2020, being unable to return to his Bristol home, and his most recent illness, he never once complained. Ben told everyone how lucky he was. He also had a dry sense of humor and could deliver a joke with a straight face even under the worst of circumstances. When he awoke from heart surgery in July 2020, the cardiologist told him the surgery had been a piece of cake. Ben immediately asked, “What kind of cake?”. In addition to his two late wives, Ben was preceded in death by his parents, sister Joanne, and brother Duwayne. He is survived by his favorite daughter, Suzanne Bendickson Morris, her husband David, and three grandchildren whom he adored, Jackson, Devin, and Callie; Devin’s wife, Anna; his loving sister Carmen Ostby of Wheaton, MN; several nieces and nephews, and many friends, including his special friends at the Residence at Watertown Square.

A memorial service will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in the Brown & Hickey Funeral Home, 36 Trapelo Road, Belmont, MA. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local Meals On Wheels program, or Meals On Wheels America. As a tribute to Ben, please also consider telling someone that they are “terrific” today.

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