Carol Rose Bennett (nee Ecker), age 89 of River Falls, Wis., died on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at Vista Prairie at Red Cedar Canyon in Hudson, Wis.. Carol was born the daughter of Alfred and Rose (Boesel) Ecker on Dec. 3, 1935, in a farmhouse north of Hammond, Wis. in St. Croix County. She attended country school through fourth grade, living in four different farmhouses while her father worked on those farms. When the country schools closed, she rode the bus to Hammond, graduating from Hammond High School with the class of 1953. Carol met Bob Bennett, the love of her life, on Oct. 3, 1952. They eloped on Aug. 27, 1954, at The Little Brown Church in Iowa. They rented their first home in Beldenville, Wis., eventually buying that home in 1972. They remodeled and raised their four children in that home.
In 2019, Carol sold the farm and moved to Wellhaven Senior Living in River Falls. She moved to Vista Prairie at Red Cedar Canyon in June 2024. In the 50s, Carol spent her summers working for Pete and Etta Olsen near Hammond. After graduation, she worked for Cargill in Minneapolis, Minn. Once married and settled in Beldenville, Carol spent 23 years in food service for the River Falls School District at Westside School. She was active with her children’s 4H club, and Rush River Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School, participated in circles, altar guild and as an usher. Bob and Carol enjoyed traveling with trips to Norway, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii. Their favorite trip was in 1997 when they pulled their fifth wheel to Alaska and spent the entire summer. Carol also enjoyed family camping trips and spending time at their cabin in Siren, Wis.. Carol was known for her pies; she enjoyed cooking and baking and was her children and grandchildren’s biggest supporter and fan in all their activities.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Bennett; son, Mark Bennett; parents, Alfred and Rose Ecker; sister, Donna (George) Peck; brothers, Ken (Pat) Ecker, Allan (Darlene) Ecker; brother-in-law, Dick Kinney; parents-in-law, Earl and Marian Bennett; step mother-in-law, Ethyl Bennett; sisters-in-law, Jean (Howard) Robey, Betty DeRoy, Donna Wilkens; and nephew, John Kinney. Carol is survived by her children, Robbie (Larry) Jensen, Kathy (Craig) Nelson, John (Nora) Bennett; daughter-in-law, Joanna Bennett; grandchildren, Jake (Lindsay) Bennett, Maren (Jake) Traeger, Laura (Eric) Calland, Brian Jensen, Cassie (Darwin) Dean, Stacia (Nick) Johnson, Darin (Karen) Nelson, Zachary (Raquel) Bennett, Mark (Anna) Bennett, Micha (Chelsea) Bennett; great-grandchildren, Braden and Kylie Bennett, Reid, Kora and Mark Traeger, Bennett, Mara, and Hudson Calland, Reina Dean, Kieran, Camden and Teegan Johnson, Jameson and Leticia Nelson; sister, Leona Kinney; brothers-in-law, Dick (Mary) Bennett, Dean (Pat) Bennett, Jim (Nancee) Bennett, Ralph DeRoy, Jerry Wilkens; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. A Memorial Service is being planned for the end of March 2025. Memorials may be directed to Rush River Lutheran Church. Arrangements are pending with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.