DULUTH, Minn. — "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness." 2 Timothy 3: 7-8
Dennis Besonen, 78, of Ironwood, Michigan, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Nov. 6, 2025. He passed away at Essentia Health in Duluth, with his family by his side.
Dennis Dean Besonen was born on July 20, 1947, at Ontonagon Memorial Hospital to Arne and Kathleen (Puumala) Besonen. He grew up on the family farm in Trout Creek, Michigan, along with seven brothers and one sister.
Dennis graduated from Trout Creek High School in 1965. He moved to Minneapolis and worked for Target Corporation until he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1966. He was deployed to Viet Nam as an infantry soldier and was honorably discharged in 1968.
He then attended Gogebic Community College for two years and graduated in 1970. Following that, he attended and graduated from Inter-Lutheran Seminary in Minneapolis.
Dennis worked for Thermoform Plastics in Minneapolis for a number of years. He also worked for Grussendorf Nursery in Duluth, was self-employed as a landscaper, and also worked at Big Powderhorn Ski Resort, Norco Windows, and United Parcel Service.
On Sept. 20, 1986, Dennis married Christine Mattila. She survives, along with their two sons, Matt of Bloomington and Michael of Ironwood. Dennis is also survived by his siblings, Arnie, Stan, Don, Darrell, Muriel (Russ), Bryan (Carol), and David (Jill); and his brothers- and sisters-in-law, Bob and Sandi Mattila, Edna Mattila, and Cora and Gary Grant; several aunts, an uncle, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Carl "Jake."
Dennis loved playing and watching basketball. He liked anything Johnny Cash. In his younger years, he played guitar in a gospel band, along with family and friends.
He also liked the simple things in life, such as a good sauna, followed by a bowl of ice cream. He enjoyed deer hunting in Trout Creek, camping at Little Girl's Point and road trips. He and Chris took the trip of a lifetime to Alaska in 2016 in their small motorhome.
Dennis was known as a jokester. He talked to everybody he met, and he had a special love for children, looking forward to events such as the Sunday School Christmas program.

Dennis was a lifelong member of the Apostolic Lutheran Church of America. Most of all, he was a Bible-believing Christian.

Visitation will be held on Friday, Nov. 21, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Apostolic Lutheran Church in Ironwood, followed by a song service.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22 at the Apostolic Lutheran Church, followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. The Rev. Bruce Estola will officiate. After the funeral service, a meal will be served in the church dining hall.
Burial will take place in the spring of 2026.
"By the time you read this, I will be singing with the angels in heaven. I went to my eternal home on Nov. 6, and it is a far better place than there on earth.
"It would make me very happy if all of you would accept Jesus as your Savior and join me in Heaven. Hell is so bad I wouldn't want my worst enemy to go there." — Dennis Besonen

Jerald Rocco of Lakeside Memorial Chapel, Wakefield, Michigan, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.