Long time Silver Springs, Nev. resident Joedy H. "Joe" Benson died in Carson City Saturday, September 29, 2012 surrounded by family and loved ones after a brief illness. He was 90. He was born on January 6, 1922 to Homer Earl Benson and Myra Laura Addison in Centerville, Fresno County, Calif. Joe attended Los Angeles area schools in Lynwood and graduated from Compton Union High School in 1941.
Joe served with the United States Navy Seabees in Saipan during World War II as a Shipfitter Second Class and was honorably discharged in 1945. Mr. Benson married Millie Louise Easley in 1951 in Compton, Calif. and was preceded in death by his wife of over 30 years in 1983. Mr. Benson was later preceded in death by his 25-year companion and love of his life, Mary Farner, in 2010. Also preceding Mr. Benson in death were his siblings, Dorothy May Benson and William Homer Benson. He is survived by niece, Dorothy M. Bickle of Kingman, Ariz.
In a career spanning more than 40 years, Mr. Benson was a welder in the Reno area with Sierra Engineering, Nevada Tank and Casing and Briscoe Steel Fabricators. He was also self-employed as a stone mason in Washoe Valley and later worked as a banquet waiter at the MGM in Reno. Joe and Mary both enjoyed traveling and bird watching all over the western states, especially the National Parks and Monuments like Bryce Canyon, Zion, Yosemite and Death Valley. They also loved playing the horses at the local books and traveling to the race track. Joe was quite the artist during his retirement years and fabricated his famous turtles and alligators from stone and Styrofoam and road runners and other birds out of gourds. His favorites were the full sized Nutcracker Toy Soldiers that he made to "keep busy".
Jacqui and Gene La Voie made sure Joe was happy and well cared for at their HIRC group home in Stagecoach, Nev. and stepsons, Thomas K. Gallagher of Reno, Michael K. Gallagher of Seattle; and stepgranddaughter, Cheryl Child of Reno extend their gratitude to them for making Joe part of their family. A private memorial will be held at the Veteran's Cemetery in Fernley, Nev.
