Corvallis – Lucille Adeline Bienusa “Lucy” was 83 years old when she went home to be with her Lord and Savior. Born on July 23, 1942, to Oscar and Florence Dohlen of Rolette, ND. She grew up on a farm and attended a country school. At times in the winter when the roads were unpassable, she rode to school in a covered, heated sled pulled by a team of horses. Her favorite times as a child were when her cousins and relatives would come together for holidays. As a youth, Lucille was an avid equestrian competing in barrel racing events. She also loved music and learning the piano.
In 1960, Lucille graduated high school as Valedictorian. She received a scholarship from the Lutheran Brotherhood Insurance Co. She attended and graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN with a degree in Medical Technology and a Minor in Chemistry, Class of ‘64. After graduation, Lucy went to work in the Minneapolis area as a Med Tech. It was there that she met and was married to Dennis Bienusa in 1966. The two were together for 57 years until his passing in 2023.
Lucy moved with Denny to Alexandria, MN and then to Roseau, MN and worked side by side with him as they opened their service station, Denny’s Standard. Lucy had an abundance of energy; together they raised five children. Meanwhile, she continued to work at the station, doing books and other tasks. In 1974, she went back to work at the Roseau area hospital as a Med Tech while continuing at the station and taking care of her family. Proud of her Norwegian heritage, she made lefse and rosettes every Christmas.
Never sitting idle, Lucy was captain of a women’s softball team “Denny’s Gassers,” sponsored by the station until she broke her ankle sliding into home which ended her season. She loved competition and sports and spent as much time as she could attending her kids’ and grandkids’ activities.
In 1979, Lucy gave her heart to Jesus and was noticeably changed. She was recently described as a fiery woman of God by one of her granddaughters; most people that knew her in years to come would agree. In 1981, the family moved to Hamilton, MT. She attended Bible College at Shiloh Christian Ministries and continued on as a staff member there with Children’s Ministry, teaching Bible classes and working in administration. She also worked as a Med Tech in the clinic in Hamilton at this time.
In 1995, Lucy and Denny went to the Philippines as missionaries for three years where she wrote Bible study curriculums, still in use today, and had them translated as there were few available in the local language. She fell in love with the people and would tell stories of their time in the Philippines for years to come.
Returning to Montana, Lucy and Denny (tt is difficult to speak of her without him) settled in the Corvallis area. She went to work at Ford’s department store in Hamilton where she did the books until she retired at age 77. During this time, she also did books for D&S Machining, a family business. Lucy was very active in the church, teaching children’s ministries and teaching and leading prayer meetings. A verse that she lived up to is Ephesians 6:17-18: “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” She was truly a prayer warrior!
Lucy is survived by five children: Chris, Greg (Cindy), Michelle (Danny), Steve (Tami), Kristi (Tom); 11 grandchildren: Michael, Briana, Jesse, Kelsie (Casey), Clayton, Stephanie (Isaac), Jordan, Matthew, Katie, Cody, Kaitlin; two great grandchildren: Harmony, Asher, and one more great granddaughter on the way.
Family and friends are invited to a memorial service at House of Praise, Victor, MT on Dec. 21 at 3:00 p.m.
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