Ben Floyd Burczek

Ben Burczek, of Madison, passed away Sunday, May 18, 2025 at the Madison Health Care Services at the age of 100.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 11:00 AM at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Madison. Father Shawn Polman will officiate and burial will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday, June 5.

Arrangements are with Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home in Dawson. www.andersontebeest.com

Ben was born to Stanley and Nellie Burczek on October 31,1924 on a farm near Marble Township, MN. He was the third of seven children. Ben left home at the age of fifteen to support himself. He met the love of his life, Alice VanLerberghe, his wife of 63 years, at a dance in Ghent, MN. They fondly shared that their dates usually ended with a hamburger and a Coke. Ben and Alice were married on September 6, 1944, ten days before reporting for military duty in WWII. He served in the Army and was stationed in the South Pacific. Ben was a young, courageous soldier who received two Purple Hearts for his bravery. He returned home from the war in 1946; started farming and raising his family in Cottonwood, MN. Ben and Alice were blessed with seven children Carol, Gary, Daniel, Sharon, David, Duane and Lenus. In 1958, they moved to Dawson, MN where Ben worked for the State of Minnesota Highway Department until he retired in 1986. He is credited with saving lives in the harsh Minnesota winters by clearing the roads in his snowplow truck on Minnesota Highway 212 for over 30 years. Ben & Alice moved to Madison, MN in 1974.

Ben and Alice loved to polka dance and enjoyed dancing on the weekends in nearby towns with friends and neighbors. Ben also loved gardening and was an active member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Madison, Minnesota.

Ben was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather who loved his entire family throughout his long life and will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him.

Ben is survived by his children: Carol Cottle, Madison, MN, Sharon (Doug) Hardy Thornton, CO and Duane Burczek, Buckeye, AZ.

15 Grandchildren: Toby Cottle, Marshall, MN, Trish DeBraske, Madison, MN, Josh Cottle, Montevideo, MN, Gary Burczek, Jr, Hutchinson, MN, Rick Jorgenson, Redwood Falls, MN, Jill Schaefer, Fargo, ND, Mike Burczek, Maricopa, AZ, Chris Burczek, Cedar Rapids, IA, Deon Burczek, Brighton, CO, Devin Burczek, Henderson, CO, Michelle Tayloe, Denver, CO, Bill Burczek, Maple Grove, MN, John Burczek Dreier, Minneapolis, MN, Jessica Reitzel, Pierre, SD and Laura Burczek, Boyd, MN. 29 Great-grandchildren and 8 Great-great-grandchildren. Sisters: Fran Viaene, Cottonwood, MN, and Leona Petrovic, Chicago, IL. Daughters-in-law: Barb (Gary) Jorgenson, Redwood Falls, MN, Susan (Daniel) Burczek Buckeye, AZ, and Deb (David) Burczek, Buckeye, AZ. Ben will be fondly remembered by many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and many good friends.

Ben is preceded in death by his wife Alice and sons Lenus, Gary, Daniel, and David. Siblings Frank Burczek, Stella Dickey, Alex Burczek, and Lorraine Rohlik.