Dana Marguarite Bennett

Dana Marguarite (West) Bennett, age 73 of Fairbanks, Alaska, went to be with our Lord and those she had dearly missed in the early morning on November 3rd, 2025. Dana was born in Los Angeles, California and raised in and around Nampa, Idaho. Dana was a free spirit and sailed with the wind for a few years after graduating. She loved to tell stories of how she swam with the alligators in Florida and sang and played her flute in Colorado. Eventually she made her way back home to Idaho, settled down in Caldwell and welcomed her first daughter, Carmen, into the world. A year later, Anise was born and her little family was complete. Dana married Gary Butz of Caldwell, Idaho and although they eventually divorced, they shared many happy memories and have stayed lifelong friends, as well as with the entire Butz family. Gary and Dana brought the family to Alaska in August of 1983. In Alaska, Dana later married Shane Bennett and settled into her forever home. Dana was full of life and lived it to the fullest. She was a caretaker and loved helping people, always the first to offer any help someone may need.

Dana is survived by her daughters, Carmen West and Anise Masterson, her ten grandchildren, Kacey (Drake), Tristen, Wyley, Hayden, Brody, Holden, Ciana, Camden, Colten, Arie and her two great-grandchildren, Finley and Ezryn. She would gladly claim many more as her grandchildren as she had a huge heart and loved many. She is also survived by her sister Helen Wolfe, nieces and nephews, Amanda, Joshua, Natasha and their children Shakira, Dylan, Oceaonna, Mya Marie, and Jazelle. Dana's love for her family as well as all those she claimed as family, Marty, Kelly, Brooke, and so many more never failed. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Richard and Shirley Kinley, late husband, Shane Bennett, son-in-law, Shawn Masterson and great-nephew, Johvan Wolfe. While Dana leaves behind so many cherished family members and friends, we know that she is in good hands with our Lord and those she loved so dearly in heaven.

A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, November 9th, at the Elks Lodge in Fairbanks, Alaska from 3:00pm-6:00pm. Please join the family in remembering Dana and sharing all the fun-loving stories that we have of her and her spectacular life.