Clare Raymond Benson

1932 - 2016

Clare Raymond Benson, 84, passed away Dec. 22, 2016, in St. George, Utah. He was born March 5, 1932, in Farnum, Fremont, Idaho, to Anna Amelia Cherry and Harry Lorenzo Benson. He was the 10th of their 11 children. After graduating high school he joined the U.S. Navy, where he served on the USS Hamel AD-20 and serviced destroyers operating in Korean waters. He married Donna Jean Horne on July 28, 1955. He was released from active duty in the U.S Navy on Feb. 27, 1956, and was discharged in
1960.
Clare and Donna had their first child, Terry Raymond Benson, on April 6, 1956. Then, on Sept. 12, 1967, they adopted a daughter, Tela Jean Benson. Clare was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many callings over the years. He worked for Glendale Builders Supplies, C & C Materials Company, and Prudential Insurance Company as an agent. He was employed by U.S. Lime Company and promoted to General Manager. During this time he was elected to be President of the Arizona Masonry Guild.
On Nov. 16, 1974, he married Ruth Eliza Williams, and they moved to Canyon Country, California, along with her four children Kathy, Candy, Don and Robyn. His company sent him to Phoenix, Arizona, where he was sealed to Ruth in the Mesa Arizona Temple. He was also sealed to his four stepchildren at the same time.
In 1994 Clare and Ruth retired and built a home in St. George, Utah. In July of 2001 they served as the Directors of LDS Employment Resources in St. George, Utah. He enjoyed serving as coordinator along with his wife at the St. George Utah Temple baptistry for 10 years. He concluded his Temple service as a recommend checker in the baptistry.
Clare was a devoted husband, father and service-minded man who was very aware of all in need and went above and beyond to give help wherever needed. Clare is survived by his wife, Ruth; his brother Keith; his children Tela, Kathy, Candy, Don and Robyn; 30 grandchildren; and 76 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son Terry and his siblings Edward, Eva, May, Swede, Verla, Myrth, Melvin and Myrna.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, at 11 a.m. at the Bloomington Hills 8th Ward LDS Chapel, 1222 E. Brigham Rd., St. George, Utah. A visitation will be held from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to the service. Interment with military honors will take place at Tonaquint Cemetery.
Family and friends are invited to share condolences online at www.SerenityStG.com. Arrangements and memorial tree planting by Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah, 435-986-9100.