Benjamin Albert Benedict died from pneumonia on December 10, 2018 at Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center, Clackamas, Oregon, at age 90. He was born on January 23, 1928 in Troy Township, Oakland County, Michigan, the son of Virgil Merrill Benedict and Lottie Mae (Fuller) Benedict. He married Ellen Maring Stephens, daughter of Charles Lester Stephens and Zoe Z Patterson, on June 17, 1951 in Eugene, Oregon. Ellen passed away June 26, 2005.
Ben graduated in 1945 from Sturgis High School in Sturgis, Michigan. He entered the U.S. Army in September 1946 and went to Korea where he served with the army of occupation following the close of World War II. While awaiting discharge in March 1948, he read a University of Oregon catalog and decided to gain a bachelor's degree in Eugene, Oregon. He went on to earn a Master of Science in History and Political Science at the University of Oregon in 1956.
After marrying his beloved Ellen, they moved to Talent, Oregon, while he taught at Talent High School. Then in 1953, the family moved to Portland, there he raised his family and lived in the same home for over sixty years. Four years ago, his final move was to the Odd Fellows Home in Portland.
Ben's teaching career took place at both Talent High School in Talent, Oregon and at Grant High School in Portland. He instructed high school students in English, Social Studies, and History. In 1975, he retired from teaching so he could pursue intensive research on famine, in the course of which he borrowed books from libraries around the United States and read nearly everything in periodicals, as well, on famine. He found this an intellectually fulfilling undertaking, and wrote an unpublished book. When he completed his research, he was employed by the City of Portland until his retirement.
At home, Ben could be found reading a book or writing, a dictionary at his elbow. He felt it was never to late to learn something new. He kept a detailed personal daily journal for years.
However, he also enjoyed physical activity and could be seen running through the streets of Portland and around Mt. Scott Park from 1965 until about 2000. He would try to average a distance of five miles or more each day. After he could no longer run, he had a treadmill set up in his home and would walk two miles or more each day.
He credited his love of the outdoors with experiences as a Boy Scout as a youth and later, the interests of his wife Ellen, who obtained during their marriage, a Ph.D. in Environmental Science – Biology from the University of Oregon. Ben and Ellen and their children took vacations regularly to visit Malheur Field Station, Oregon and explored other natural places in the United States and Canada.
Ben is survived by his five children: Mark (Linda) of Vancouver, Washington; Earl of Enterprise, Oregon; Lyle (Maribel) of Chicago, Illinois; Alice of Onalaska, Wisconsin; and Alan of Puyallup, Washington; nine grandchildren: Jeremy, Chad, Ean, Eamon, Robin, Benjamin Salvador, Richard, Spring Melody, and Charles; and four great-grandchildren: Benjamin Clark, Briauna, Summer Marie, and Steven. Two sisters survive, Louise Lininger of Battle Creek, Michigan and Mary Alice (Louis) Grindol of Winter Haven, Florida. His parents and two sisters, Ruth Marie and Doris, and one brother, James, and a step-grandson, Shane, predeceased him.
Interment of his cremains and memorial ceremonies will be at Willamette National Cemetery, the date to be determined. Memorial contributions may be sent to Shriners Hospital for Children.
Ben graduated in 1945 from Sturgis High School in Sturgis, Michigan. He entered the U.S. Army in September 1946 and went to Korea where he served with the army of occupation following the close of World War II. While awaiting discharge in March 1948, he read a University of Oregon catalog and decided to gain a bachelor's degree in Eugene, Oregon. He went on to earn a Master of Science in History and Political Science at the University of Oregon in 1956.
After marrying his beloved Ellen, they moved to Talent, Oregon, while he taught at Talent High School. Then in 1953, the family moved to Portland, there he raised his family and lived in the same home for over sixty years. Four years ago, his final move was to the Odd Fellows Home in Portland.
Ben's teaching career took place at both Talent High School in Talent, Oregon and at Grant High School in Portland. He instructed high school students in English, Social Studies, and History. In 1975, he retired from teaching so he could pursue intensive research on famine, in the course of which he borrowed books from libraries around the United States and read nearly everything in periodicals, as well, on famine. He found this an intellectually fulfilling undertaking, and wrote an unpublished book. When he completed his research, he was employed by the City of Portland until his retirement.
At home, Ben could be found reading a book or writing, a dictionary at his elbow. He felt it was never to late to learn something new. He kept a detailed personal daily journal for years.
However, he also enjoyed physical activity and could be seen running through the streets of Portland and around Mt. Scott Park from 1965 until about 2000. He would try to average a distance of five miles or more each day. After he could no longer run, he had a treadmill set up in his home and would walk two miles or more each day.
He credited his love of the outdoors with experiences as a Boy Scout as a youth and later, the interests of his wife Ellen, who obtained during their marriage, a Ph.D. in Environmental Science – Biology from the University of Oregon. Ben and Ellen and their children took vacations regularly to visit Malheur Field Station, Oregon and explored other natural places in the United States and Canada.
Ben is survived by his five children: Mark (Linda) of Vancouver, Washington; Earl of Enterprise, Oregon; Lyle (Maribel) of Chicago, Illinois; Alice of Onalaska, Wisconsin; and Alan of Puyallup, Washington; nine grandchildren: Jeremy, Chad, Ean, Eamon, Robin, Benjamin Salvador, Richard, Spring Melody, and Charles; and four great-grandchildren: Benjamin Clark, Briauna, Summer Marie, and Steven. Two sisters survive, Louise Lininger of Battle Creek, Michigan and Mary Alice (Louis) Grindol of Winter Haven, Florida. His parents and two sisters, Ruth Marie and Doris, and one brother, James, and a step-grandson, Shane, predeceased him.
Interment of his cremains and memorial ceremonies will be at Willamette National Cemetery, the date to be determined. Memorial contributions may be sent to Shriners Hospital for Children.
Benjamin Albert Benedict died from pneumonia on December 10, 2018 at Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center, Clackamas, Oregon, at age 90. He was born on January 23, 1928 in Troy Township, Oakland County, Michigan, the son of Virgil Merrill Benedict and Lottie Mae (Fuller) Benedict. He married Ellen Maring Stephens, daughter of Charles Lester Stephens and Zoe Z Patterson, on June 17, 1951 in Eugene, Oregon. Ellen passed away June 26, 2005.
Ben graduated in 1945 from Sturgis High School in Sturgis, Michigan. He entered the U.S. Army in September 1946 and went to Korea where he served with the army of occupation following the close of World War II. While awaiting discharge in March 1948, he read a University of Oregon catalog and decided to gain a bachelor's degree in Eugene, Oregon. He went on to earn a Master of Science in History and Political Science at the University of Oregon in 1956.
After marrying his beloved Ellen, they moved to Talent, Oregon, while he taught at Talent High School. Then in 1953, the family moved to Portland, there he raised his family and lived in the same home for over sixty years. Four years ago, his final move was to the Odd Fellows Home in Portland.
Ben's teaching career took place at both Talent High School in Talent, Oregon and at Grant High School in Portland. He instructed high school students in English, Social Studies, and History. In 1975, he retired from teaching so he could pursue intensive research on famine, in the course of which he borrowed books from libraries around the United States and read nearly everything in periodicals, as well, on famine. He found this an intellectually fulfilling undertaking, and wrote an unpublished book. When he completed his research, he was employed by the City of Portland until his retirement.
At home, Ben could be found reading a book or writing, a dictionary at his elbow. He felt it was never to late to learn something new. He kept a detailed personal daily journal for years.
However, he also enjoyed physical activity and could be seen running through the streets of Portland and around Mt. Scott Park from 1965 until about 2000. He would try to average a distance of five miles or more each day. After he could no longer run, he had a treadmill set up in his home and would walk two miles or more each day.
He credited his love of the outdoors with experiences as a Boy Scout as a youth and later, the interests of his wife Ellen, who obtained during their marriage, a Ph.D. in Environmental Science – Biology from the University of Oregon. Ben and Ellen and their children took vacations regularly to visit Malheur Field Station, Oregon and explored other natural places in the United States and Canada.
Ben is survived by his five children: Mark (Linda) of Vancouver, Washington; Earl of Enterprise, Oregon; Lyle (Maribel) of Chicago, Illinois; Alice of Onalaska, Wisconsin; and Alan of Puyallup, Washington; nine grandchildren: Jeremy, Chad, Ean, Eamon, Robin, Benjamin Salvador, Richard, Spring Melody, and Charles; and four great-grandchildren: Benjamin Clark, Briauna, Summer Marie, and Steven. Two sisters survive, Louise Lininger of Battle Creek, Michigan and Mary Alice (Louis) Grindol of Winter Haven, Florida. His parents and two sisters, Ruth Marie and Doris, and one brother, James, and a step-grandson, Shane, predeceased him.
Interment of his cremains and memorial ceremonies will be at Willamette National Cemetery, the date to be determined. Memorial contributions may be sent to Shriners Hospital for Children.
Ben graduated in 1945 from Sturgis High School in Sturgis, Michigan. He entered the U.S. Army in September 1946 and went to Korea where he served with the army of occupation following the close of World War II. While awaiting discharge in March 1948, he read a University of Oregon catalog and decided to gain a bachelor's degree in Eugene, Oregon. He went on to earn a Master of Science in History and Political Science at the University of Oregon in 1956.
After marrying his beloved Ellen, they moved to Talent, Oregon, while he taught at Talent High School. Then in 1953, the family moved to Portland, there he raised his family and lived in the same home for over sixty years. Four years ago, his final move was to the Odd Fellows Home in Portland.
Ben's teaching career took place at both Talent High School in Talent, Oregon and at Grant High School in Portland. He instructed high school students in English, Social Studies, and History. In 1975, he retired from teaching so he could pursue intensive research on famine, in the course of which he borrowed books from libraries around the United States and read nearly everything in periodicals, as well, on famine. He found this an intellectually fulfilling undertaking, and wrote an unpublished book. When he completed his research, he was employed by the City of Portland until his retirement.
At home, Ben could be found reading a book or writing, a dictionary at his elbow. He felt it was never to late to learn something new. He kept a detailed personal daily journal for years.
However, he also enjoyed physical activity and could be seen running through the streets of Portland and around Mt. Scott Park from 1965 until about 2000. He would try to average a distance of five miles or more each day. After he could no longer run, he had a treadmill set up in his home and would walk two miles or more each day.
He credited his love of the outdoors with experiences as a Boy Scout as a youth and later, the interests of his wife Ellen, who obtained during their marriage, a Ph.D. in Environmental Science – Biology from the University of Oregon. Ben and Ellen and their children took vacations regularly to visit Malheur Field Station, Oregon and explored other natural places in the United States and Canada.
Ben is survived by his five children: Mark (Linda) of Vancouver, Washington; Earl of Enterprise, Oregon; Lyle (Maribel) of Chicago, Illinois; Alice of Onalaska, Wisconsin; and Alan of Puyallup, Washington; nine grandchildren: Jeremy, Chad, Ean, Eamon, Robin, Benjamin Salvador, Richard, Spring Melody, and Charles; and four great-grandchildren: Benjamin Clark, Briauna, Summer Marie, and Steven. Two sisters survive, Louise Lininger of Battle Creek, Michigan and Mary Alice (Louis) Grindol of Winter Haven, Florida. His parents and two sisters, Ruth Marie and Doris, and one brother, James, and a step-grandson, Shane, predeceased him.
Interment of his cremains and memorial ceremonies will be at Willamette National Cemetery, the date to be determined. Memorial contributions may be sent to Shriners Hospital for Children.
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