Benkler, Dawn M. age 57 of St. Francis, passed away September 13 2019 in a tragic car accident. She was a dearly loved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She was born in Greenbush, MN. After graduating with a degree in accounting from the University of Minnesota, she briefly worked in accounting before she ultimately led a 21-year career in network technology. Known for her beautiful, resonating voice which graced many events, she had an even larger and more beautiful heart which blessed all who knew her. She often said she "worked to live, not lived to work", and enjoyed spending time with family, singing, spoiling her two dogs, spending time at Silver Rapids Lodge on White Iron Lake in Ely, and reminding her children that she wanted more grandchildren. It was no secret that she and her husband were planning many a future summer spoiling grandchildren. Preceded in death by her mother, Fern Adelle Svoboda; father, James Svoboda; brother Jeffrey Sheldon Svoboda; nephews Todd Ryan Svoboda, Jeremy Gene Lundgren; great niece Ciara "Kiki" Flynn; brother-in-law, Eugene Lundgren. Survived by husband Ron Kirt Benkler; children, Brittany (Casey) Zelfer, Collin (Rachel) Benkler, Loegan (Destinee Zavala-Mena) Benkler; granddaughter Avianna Zelfer; siblings Gail (Roxanne) Svoboda, James (Suanne) Svoboda, Brach (Janice) Svoboda, Junieve Lundgren, Marchelle (Kenneth) Kesler; along with many other loving family and friends. A celebration of Dawn's life will be held on Saturday, September 28th at 1PM at Mansetti's, 23042 St. Francis Blvd NW, St. Francis. In lieu of flowers her request in such an event were memorials to St. Jude's Children Hospital (stjude.org/) or Animal Ark (animalarkmn.org/). Thurston-DeShaw Funeral Home Andover 763-767-7373 thurston-deshaw.com