Gerald Benson

Gerald "Jerry" Dwayne Benson, who was a born-again Christian and was looking forward to the rapture, was called home early to be with his precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015, after a long struggle with lymphoma.

He started his life Aug. 24, 1927, in Cedar Ridge, Colo., born to Charles and Velma Benson. He lived and worked many years in Colorado. He worked various jobs in all the Western states. His jobs included miner, real estate agent, ammunition inspector, carpenter and welder. He was proud of being a millwright on all the dams on the Columbia Basin drainage system. He was a very active man in earlier years. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, fly fishing, tying flies, coin collecting, bottle collecting and being a rock hound. He enjoyed playing his saxophone at all the area nursing homes and at church with his wife, Dianne. In his later years he was an avid gardener and sports enthusiast - especially for the Seahawks.

He was married to Audrey Richey Benson for 26 years, until they divorced in 1975. They had five children, Larry, Darlyne, Kathleen, Marilyn and Valerie. He later married Ruth Dianne Ruker Thomason in 1999.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth Dianne; brother Ron Benson; sisters Marcia Stahl and Dona Wolt; daughters Darlyne (Jim) Alfrey, Marilyn (Dick) Alfrey and Valerie Benson; stepdaughters Dorita (Rick) VanBuskirk, Darina Hess and Jackie (Mark) Martin; 14 grandchildren, Angel and Chris Jacks and Jim Alfrey, (the daughter and son of Darlyne and Jim), Amanda and Samantha Alfrey (daughters of Marilyn and Dick), Sonny Watkins and Sean and Brandi Watkins (sons of Valerie), Devina, Dakota and Samantha (Dorita and Rick VanBuskirk), Tye Ryan, Cameron and Montana (Darina Hess and Ryan), Jessica Snyder and Travis Pearson, Anthony and Har Snyder, Lauren and Sheridan (Jackie and Mark Martin); five great-grandchildren, Austin and Allison Jacks (Angel and Chris), Arlo and Everly Roberts (Amanda), Emmett Lee Pearson (Jessica and Travis); and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by both his parents; his brother, Keith Benson; son Larry Benson; and daughter Kathleen Benson.

A family celebration of life will be held at a later date.