Donald Bendickson

It is with heartfelt sadness we share that Don passed away on Thursday, April 2, 2020.  The Bendickson family -- Don, Mark, Joel, Rick and his wife and children, have all been sharing memories of Don and are thankful he has finally found peace.  Please feel free to share your memories of Don with us and with each other.  A memorial and celebration of Don’s life will be planned for later this year after difficulties from COVID-19 have passed.

Donald Robert Bendickson

Died April 2, 2020, at the age of 93.  Son of Hilda and Melvin Bendickson and preceded in death by his wife, Joan, and granddaughter, Julia Rose Bendickson.  Survived by their children; Mark, Joel, Eric (and his wife, Teresa); grandchildren, Justine, Graham, and Maria Bendickson; sister, Margaret Nesje, as well as several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews.

Don was born in Scarville, Iowa, growing up with his sister Margaret on the farm and attending school.  They were surrounded by relatives and friends in both Iowa and Minnesota celebrating their Norwegian heritage.  Don served for two years in the United States Army during the Korean conflict.  He attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa taking every art and design course offered.  He moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota and started his career creating window and specialized displays for the Emporium, a St. Paul department store. It was there he met his wife Joan, of 62 years. They raised their three sons in White Bear Lake and Vadnais Heights and were members of St. Stephen Lutheran Church.  Don and Joan literally made their family home clearing the site, and as designers, custom interior fabricators, and landscapers. Don was passionate about golf and art.  Since retirement he shared his watercolors in community art shows.  Very important to him was his vocation in the trade show industry.  He started several companies including Dimensional Display & Design, Exhibit Design Systems, and was a Partner in Interlock Structures International. He acquired Haas Display in 1987 from which he retired after 50 years in the business.  Don also worked at Custom and Rutherford Displays and Heritage Communications.  He was an active leader in the Exhibit Design & Producers Association (ED&PA). Don’s life ended at Saint Therese at St. Odilia after residing at Cerenity Senior Care in White Bear Lake and his family is grateful to those who cared for him.

If you wish to make a donation in Don’s name the family requests donations be sent to St. Stephen Lutheran Church or Luther College, Decorah, Iowa.