Look who’s back to tools, flies, hardware

• Fred Benson

Lund’s Hardware owner Fred Benson said last week he’s been coming to the store 10-15 hours a week. Everyone is invited to a 9 a.m.-2 p.m. reception including cake and beverages Sat. Aug. 13, at Lund’s, 201 S. Main St., to celebrate his 60th birthday. Debbie Griffin photo

Talk about it

Most people would call 2011 a tough year for Fred Benson, but he says he tries not to whine about it. The Lund’s Hardware store owner paused from work to battle a cancer best described as Burkitt’s lymphoma or one “like” it.

Benson emerged victorious.

“I’ve declared myself cancer free,” he said, adding that two recent high-detail scans and his doctors agree.

Benson said last week he feels lucky and extremely grateful to his wife, Yvonne; to the staff of Lund’s; to his family; and to the community.

“Support from the public was overwhelming,” he said, adding that he had lots of spirit-lifting calls, visits, cards, thoughts and prayers.

His ordeal began in early January when abdominal pain caused him to visit the River Falls Area Hospital emergency room.

A tumor had burst open his colon, calling for an immediate operation during which surgeons removed five feet of his colon.

He soon transferred to University of Minnesota Fairview, where he began chemotherapy.

Doctors wanted him to have eight two-week rounds, but, he says thankfully, the treatments stopped in early June after six two-week rounds.

He calls them not fun and marked by complications like pneumonia and blood clots. Benson looks at the bright side and considers himself lucky to have not needed a colostomy, an artificial opening from the colon to the abdomen.

He also feels fortunate to have been in River Falls when he started feeling badly. Had the pain struck him just a little later, he would have been on a plane to Phoenix, or maybe already there.

“I was very lucky to be close to home,” he said.

Benson spent a total of 75 nights in the hospital and said Yvonne was there every night and day, usually spending the night on a cot.

His is a fairly rare cancer. It’s one that usually afflicts people with AIDS or who have had a liver transplant, but neither condition applies to him.

Benson said nights weren’t the best for sleeping with a steady flow of doctors, nurses, aides, blood technicians and others coming and going from his room.

He said he tried to be likeable and met lots of diverse, interesting and “really cool” people. Benson says Yvonne has great hospital savvy and kept track of the many details.

He enjoyed and appreciated the positive messages posted to his online Caring Bridge site.

With a smile he explains how “his girls” (stepdaughters) kept the site updated for him, even reminding potential visitors not to come while sick.

Benson said the upside to having no resistance to illness was that he got a private room most of the time.

He remains mindful about the 20% chance of re-occurrence during the first year.

Benson said he is both thankful for the “conventional” medicine that helped him win his battle and is encouraged by the prospects of seeing some alternative practitioners and trying some different things to help stay well.

So, what does he say was the best thing about getting home for good?

“I thought it was great to sleep in my own bed,” Benson said, “and not with an IV stand.”

Minding the store

“The staff at Lund’s did, is doing, a wonderful job,” said the owner, who adds that he feels fortunate and grateful to have had them in charge of business during his ordeal.

“I was lucky not to have to have the pressure of going back to work,” Benson said.

He said everyone rose to the occasion, especially Lund’s General Manager Brian Smolinski. All employees worked extra hours to take care of the 138-year-old business.

Benson said he’s been coming in most days, spending about 10-15 hours a week.

Swedish immigrant Andrew Lund started the business in 1873 doing high-quality manufacturing and repairing of “anything with wheels.” Lund moved to the current location in 1894 and started selling retail in 1906.

Benson’s grandfather worked for Lund for 47 years, and his father worked there 50 years.

Lund’s has evolved since its wheel-repair days to include tools, hardware, paint, yard implements, home and garden accessories, a sporting goods section catering to fly-fishing fanatics, bird food and more.

Lately, many customers and other friends have been asking: “How’s Fred?” He acknowledges a reputation for personal service and says the one thing Lund’s always does for people is cheer them on through all their projects, missions, home repairs, fishing adventures, redecorating jobs and more.

He uses the word “fortunate” often in describing his circumstances and said he wishes he could share some of his network with people who don’t have as much.

One of the early entries on his Caring Bridge site sums up Benson’s attitude toward cancer:

What Cancer Cannot Do…It cannot cripple love, shatter hope, corrode faith, eat away peace, destroy confidence, kill friendship, shut out memories, silence courage, reduce eternal life or quench the Spirit.

Everyone is invited to a 9 a.m.-2 p.m. reception including cake and beverages Sat. Aug. 13, at Lund’s, 201 S. Main St., to celebrate his 60th birthday.

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