Betty Benbow

1927 - 2016

Passed away peacefully on April 4, 2016. Born July 4, 1927 to Warren and Lucille Ridley in Santa Rosa, CA. At age 5, the family split up and Betty was raised by her dad and his mother, Frances Edith Dutcher Ridley "Gram". She graduated from Yuba City High School in 1945. She met Kenneth D. Benbow upon his return from WWII and they eloped to Carson City, NV and married July 2, 1949. They settled in Marysville and in 1953 their first son, Alan was born followed by Steven in 1956 and Jerry in 1958. In 1959, the family moved to Fair Oaks with Ken working as an electrician and Betty focused on raising their sons. When the boys were established in school, Betty started driving school bus for the San Juan School District. Her most famous student passenger was none other than Molly Ringwald who as Betty put it kept the bus entertained! Ken and Betty retired in 1987 and began an amazing life of travel (Arizona for Cactus League Baseball) and fishing splitting their time between Citrus Heights and Brookings, Oregon. In 1997 they returned full time to California focusing on their network of local friends and their 8 grandchildren and 7 great- grandchildren. In 2009, Ken passed away and Betty was even more involved with her grandchildren, especially Tiffany (Jerry Benbow) who became her constant companion as she chauffeured her to and from school and her many activities. Survived by her sons, Alan Benbow (Viki), Steven Benbow (Brenda) and Jerry Benbow; 8 grandchildren, Ryan, Jenny, Tiffany, Daniel, Christin, Brooke Guerrero and Ryan and Wyatt Laining and 7 great grandchildren. Services will be held at 11:00AM on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at the Celtic Cross Presbyterian Church (5839 Dewey Drive, Citrus Heights). Betty just loved to go out to lunch! In lieu of flowers please take someone you know who could use a lift out to lunch and brighten their day! PRICE FUNERAL CHAPEL (725-2109), directors.