Community Mourns as Pine Co. Deputy is Moved to Hospice

Family, friends, and colleagues of Pine County Deputy Ben Neel will be making their final goodbyes as Ben will be moved into hospice care next week.

Ben is a 16 year veteran with the Pine County Sheriff's Office. He also served as a school resource officer, SWAT operator, and handler of K9 Chewy.

It was discovered in October of last year that Ben had two brain tumors. He went in for surgery on December 11, 2019.

In an update to the Ben Neel Family Facebook page post on January 2, 2020, it was announced that damage due to complications was too much for what medicine could do.

"Ben had suffered a massive brain stem stroke as a complication of his surgery. The team wanted to give him ample time for recovery after surgery, and they have. They have done everything that medicine can do, but the damage from the stroke was too much. Ben will not be able to recover and will start hospice care on January 8th."

Following the news, the Pine County Sheriff's Office shared its message, writing on social media, "Our office is heartbroken to share this news. Please keep Ben's family in your thoughts and prayers."

A GoFundMe for Ben Neel's family was set up in December and has raised over $26,000.

Anyone interested in donating can do so online through GoFundMe or through Frandsen Bank and Trust in Pine City.

Frandsen Bank and Trust Neel Family Fund 560 3rd Ave SE Pine City, MN 55063