John Bennett Benson

1959 - 2011

John Bennett Benson, 52, passed away on June 5, 2011. John was born March 16, 1959, in Germany. He had lived in Alaska for the past 42 years.
John was an avid hunter and fisherman, and a faithful and loyal friend. Among his many occupations was working for the power plant at Fort Greely from 1977 to 1998. He became a permanent employee there in 1990. He was a boiler mechanic by trade.
John married Karen Wilken in May 1982, and adopted a daughter Robin Porter. In 1982, his daughter Jennifer was born and his son Brandon was born in 1987.
John married Ruth Keaster on Oct. 21, 2000, in North Pole.
John loved playing basketball, softball, pinochle and cribbage. He was a fan of Braves baseball, Cowboys football and Celtics basketball. He also loved the outdoors, riding horses, crossword puzzles, Sudoku and jigsaw puzzles.
John enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He also loved going on walks and bicycle rides with his mother and dog, Tok. John loved the Lord. He also loved food and moose camp every hunting season.
John is survived by his wife, Ruth Benson of North Pole; his mother Edie Benson of North Pole; daughter Robin M. Porter of North Pole; daughter Jennifer M. Read, husband Jeffrey Brandon and son Jeffrey Maurice of Aurora, Colo.; son Brandon M. Benson, fiancee Samantha Knutsen and daughter Aliegha Kaye of Fairbanks; stepson Michael Hoke Jr., wife Allison, sons Anthony and Alex of Rogers, Ark.; stepson Steven Hoke and fiancee Asha Ben-Israel of North Pole; stepdaughter Amanda Tyson, husband Billy and son Trey of North Pole; sister Julie Kietzman, husband John, son Alan and daughter Sara, of Fairbanks; mother-in-law Emily V. Keaster of Delta Junction; and Mom and Pops Gibbens of Delta Junction.
He was preceded in death by his father, John E. Benson.
There will be a memorial service for John at
4 p.m., Saturday, June 11, at the Community Center in Delta Junction. The service will be officiated by the Pioneers of Alaska. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite Christian charity.
Every person John met, he touched in a very special way. There was a lot of love and understanding; there were no strangers to him. Even on his bad days, he found good in them. He loved everyone and hurt no one. John was always ready to give of himself, and never afraid to work. John will be loved and missed by lots of friends and family.
Arrangements were entrusted to Chapel of Chimes Funeral Home.