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Incident
Trooper Ted Benda succumbed to injuries sustained six days earlier when he was involved in a single-vehicle crash.
He was responding to assist deputies from the Clayton County Sheriff's Office with a wanted subject at about 11:30 pm when his patrol car left the roadway on Iowa Highway 51 six miles north of Postville. He was flown to Gunderson Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he remained until succumbing to his injuries.
Trooper Benda had served with the Iowa State Patrol for five years and had previously served with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation for 11 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, four children, parents, and siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Benda gave the Iowa State Patrol 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Iowa. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Benda.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Iowa State Patrol has lost 12 officers; 9 of them lost to accidents.
Theodore is one of 71 officers lost to accidents in IA, 31.4% of the 226 remembered there.
Theodore is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Theodore is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2021, 1 officer at Iowa State Patrol was lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 8 years on record. The heaviest was 1989, with 2.
In 2021, 1 officer in IA was lost to accidents, the 18th heaviest of 50 years on record. The heaviest was 1925, with 3.
In 2021, 54 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 86th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2021, 55 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 96th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Theodore was 37. Of the 9 lost to accidents at Iowa State Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 43; the middle age was 37. Theodore had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Theodore was 37. Of the 69 lost to accidents in IA whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 48; the middle age was 38. Theodore had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Theodore was 37. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Theodore had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Theodore was 37. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Theodore had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
October holds 22.2% of these deaths at Iowa State Patrol; June holds the most, 44.4%. Wednesdays: 22.2%.
October holds 11.3% of these deaths in IA; June holds the most, 16.9%. Wednesdays: 16.9%.
October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
October holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 75% of all 12 deaths at Iowa State Patrol, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 31.4% of all 226 deaths in IA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Iowa State Patrol has 12 officers remembered here, Theodore among them.
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Oran H. Pape
Apr 30, 1936
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Harold Emmerson Klinkefus
May 18, 1949
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Harold Clarence DeGear
Feb 19, 1954
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Ralph Franklin Garthwaite
Jul 2, 1955
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Marvin C. VanderLinden
Jun 11, 1965
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Charles Gerald Whitney
Jun 16, 1985
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Lance G. Dietsch
Jun 30, 1989
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Stanley E. Gerling
Jun 30, 1989
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Allen Patrick Nieland
Oct 14, 1990
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Mark Edward Toney
Sep 20, 2011
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James Kyle Smith
Apr 9, 2021
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Theodore Lawrence Benda
Oct 20, 2021
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 34-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Iowa State Patrol are honored on badge.nw.
