Creek Indian Nation - OBIT:  William Benham
Creek Citizens from across Creek Nation

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   OKbits File Muscogee Nation News
   Creek citizens from across Creek Nation 
   
   April 1976
   
   BENHAM
   William J. "Bill" BENHAM was born in 1901 at Carson. He died April 6,
   1976, at the Holdenville General Hospital. Funeral services were held
   April l8 at the First Baptist Church officiated by Rev. Jim REYNOLDS,
   pastor, assisted by Rev. George JESSE, a relative of the deceased and
   pastor of Sasakwa Indian Baptist Church. Pallbearers were Grady
   HARRISON, Horace PETETE, Gene BRITTON, Howard CARMICHAEL, Fred HOUSE,
   and Tom FIXICO. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Oddfellow
   Lodge. Mason rites were performed at the graveside by Quimby WILSON.
   Burial was at the Holdenville Cemetery in the family plot.
   He was a member of the Creek Tribe and active in Creek tribal affairs.
   He served for nine terms as Hughes County Commissioner, District 1. He
   served many years as Secretary of Holdenville 123 AF and AM and was a
   former past master and District Deputy Grand Master of the Masonic
   Lodge in Holdenville.
   Preceding him in death was his wife, the former Pearl Mancha BUTLER,
   and one son Walter BENHAM.
   His survivors include his children, William Aubrey BENHAM and Billie
   Jo BRUNER both of Holdenville, and Dr. William J. "Buck" BENHAM and
   Inez PROVOST both of Albuquerque, NM; ten grandchildren, Monta Sharon
   BLACKWELL, Julie PEDRO, Joseph T. PROVOST, Jr., and Melinda Jo BENHAM
   of Albuquerque; Terence Michael BRUNER of Muskogee, Christopher
   BRUNER, Jeffery BRUNER and Barbara BENHAM of Holdenville, Bruce BENHAM
   of Denver, CO, William J. "Bill" BENHAM III of Ada; eight
   great-grandchildren; three brothers, Earl W. BENHAM and Newman BENHAM
   both of Carson, and Claude A. BENHAM of Gonzales, LA; and five
   sisters, Lucy NELSON and Ida DUNN of Texarkana, TX, Aileeen HORTON of
   Carson, Betty Lou HARRINGTON of Detroit, MI, and Bobbye Nell BENHAM.