Harrison Benedict Jr.

1935 - 2023

Harrison Benedict Jr., 88, Washington, passed away Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.

Harrison was born Feb. 8, 1935, in St. Aubert, to Harrison Benedict and wife Ruth, nee Barbarick. Harrison attended elementary school in St. Aubert and high school in Chamois. He served in the U.S. Air Force from Sept. 1955 until Sept. 1959 at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas. He married the love of his life, Vera Marquart, Sept. 29, 1956, at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church, Washington, and the couple then moved to Fort Worth, Texas.

After receiving his honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1959, the couple moved home to Washington. Harrison received training in the Air Force for accounting and that became his profession both in the Air Force and after being discharged. He worked as an accountant for St. Francis Hospital, Washington, Binkley, Warrenton, and Missouri Limestone, Warrenton. After retiring as an accountant in 1990, Harrison worked for the Washington School District from 1991 until 1998.

Harrison was a member of St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church. He loved spending time outdoors and was an avid fisherman and hunter. He loved spending time with his family fishing at Bennett Springs and other trout streams around the state, and hunting for deer, squirrels, and rabbits with his friends, sons and daughter. He also enjoyed taking the family on vacations that ranged from camping trips to long distance driving vacations around the state and out of state. In the early 1970s, power boating was added to the things that he enjoyed, and most summer weekends were spent on the Missouri River either teaching family and friends how to water ski, or roasting hotdogs on a sandbar. Everything that his children and grandchildren love to do is because he taught them.

He is survived by his wife, Vera Benedict, nee Marquart; sons, Dale Benedict and wife Jill Shelton, Washington, Jeffrey Benedict and wife Tina, Marthasville, Kurt Benedict and wife Leesa, Labadie; daughter, Debra LaBoube and husband Dennis, Berger; sister, Jean Parmentier, Washington; seven grandchildren, Katy, Kelly, Erica, Kaitlyn, Jeffrey, Lindsy, and Karlie; three great-grandchildren; Leah, Harper, and Knox; many other family members and friends.

Harrison was preceded in death by his parents; Harrison and Ruth Benedict, and sister, Catherine Thompson.

Rosary was held at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, October 5, at Oltmann Funeral Home, Washington, with a visitation following from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home.

A funeral Mass was held at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 6, at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church, Washington, with Father Jeff Maassen officiating.

Burial followed at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Cemetery, Washington.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Francis Borgia Parish.

The Benedict family was served by Oltmann Funeral Home, Washington.