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Gardner Benson Obituary
Born Aug. 14, 1929, in Lowell, Mass., he was the son of Oscar C. and Frances (Bailey) Benson.
Mr. Benson grew up in the Concord area, attending New Hampton School and graduating from the University of New Hampshire.
A Navy corpsman during the Korean conflict, attached to the First Medical Battalion, First Marine Division, Reinforced and Fleet Marine Force, Mr. Benson participated in the amphibious assault and seizure of Inchon and the assault and liberation of Seoul, for which he received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Mr. Benson was a former Brookline selectman and a former town manager of Goffstown, Springfield, Vt., Tamaqua, Pa., and Provincetown, Mass.
He was an extensive traveler who spent a number of years in the western United States and Alaska, finally settling in the Prescott, Ariz., region. Nine years ago, he returned to New Hampshire to be closer to his family, initially taking up residence at Golden Crest in Franklin.
All his life, he was a lover of the outdoors and had a particular fondness for hunting dogs, especially the German Shorthair Pointer breed. He was an avid upland bird hunter and a member of Ducks Unlimited, the National Rifle Association, and the North American Hunting Club.
He enjoyed presenting and narrating his slide shows of wildlife and sharing tall tales. As "Backcountry Ben" he published a memoir, "Just By Accident: Adventures of a Modern Vagabond," in which he gave his account of his experiences traveling across the country, working with the U.S. Forest Service, and his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Mr. Benson was predeceased by his brother, Donald T. Benson.
Members of his family include four children and six grandchildren.
Services with military honors will take place Monday, May 2, at 1 p.m. at the N.H. State Veterans' Cemetery, 110 D.W. Highway, Boscawen.
The Cremation Society of New Hampshire is in charge of the arrangements.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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