Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 5, 2016, in the Chapel of Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home with Msgr. Kevin McCoy officiating. Private burial will be at a later date in Corpus Christi Cemetery. A visitation will be 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Dena is survived by her children: Douglas Benson (Barbara), of Fort Dodge; Victoria Bacon, of Fort Dodge; David Benson, (Mary) of Forney, TX; Ruth Schlesinger, of Urbandale; Michael (Julie) Schlesinger, of Marshalltown; Judy Van Alstine (Bruce), of Eagle Grove; Carol Pingel (Terry), of Fort Dodge; Lynee Schlesinger, of Fort Dodge; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sisters, Mary (Roger) Enos, of Fort Dodge; and Betty (Jim) Bockoven, of Fort Dodge.

She was preceded in death by her husband, David in 2015; parents, Alesio and Ersilica (Olinti) Vicini; sons, Denny and Allen Benson.

Dena Lena Vicini was born May 20, 1922, in Salutio, Italy. At the age of eight, Dena moved to the Fort Dodge area with her family. She graduated from Otho High School and then continued her education at St. Joseph School of Nursing in Sioux City and Buena Vista. She was married to Russell Benson in 1945 and to this union three children were born: Doug, Vickie and David. The couple later divorced. Dena worked in the nursing field for 39 years, and for a number of years she worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Sioux City. She also was the Assistant Director of Nursing at Mercy Hospital in Fort Dodge and was the Director of Nursing at Humboldt County Memorial Hospital until retiring in 1984. Dena was united in marriage to David Schlesinger on June 24, 1977, and together they owned and operated Roman Inn until 2009. She was a member of Holy Trinity and participated in Fort Dodge Garden Club.

Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.