Osage County, Oklahoma, Obituary: HARRY DONALD BENSON Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joann Brazee Osage County News Service (OCNS) http://ocns.freeyellow.com/ Email: ocns@hotmail.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ HARRY DONALD BENSON OCNS - November 28, 2001 - Harry Donald Benson, 70, died Monday, November 26, 2001, in St. John's Hospital, Tulsa, following a recent illness. Harry was born March 1, 1931, in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, the son of Harry Garfield and Louella (Parrott) Benson. He attended Pawhuska Schools and was the 1949 Class Valedictorian. Harry continued his education at Oklahoma A&M (Now Oklahoma State University) and graduated in 1953 with a B.S. Degree in Business. Harry and Mary Karen Emery were united in marrige September 19, 1953, in Tulsa, Oklahoma and made their home in Pawhuska where Harry began his life long career in the lumber business alongside his father. He remained active in the family business until his death. Harry was in the ROTC program while attending Oklahoma A&M and from 1955-1957 served his country in the U.S. Air Force while stationed at Miaawa, Japan. He was active in Rotary Club International, Mid-America Lumberman's Association, and served as District Director for the Oklahoma Lumberman's Association. He was a Life Loyal Sig of the Sigma Chi Fraternity as well as a lifetime Oklahoma State University Alumni Member. Harry was an active Presbyterian and the longest standing member of the First Presbyterian Church of Pawhuska. He maintained his fiduciary and civic duty to the City of Pawhuska Library Board serving faithfully for forty years. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Harry E. "Hank" and Patti Benson of Pawhuska; four daughters and sons-in-law, Anne and Bill Sellers of Owasso, Oklahoma; Ruth and David King of Missoula, Montana; Catherine and Charles "Chuck" Allred of Skiatook, Oklahoma; Nancy and Robert "Bob" Stillman of Tulsa, Oklahoma; seventeen grandchildren; Matthew and Malinda Benson; John, Mary, Virginia and Benjamin Sellers; Jonathan, Rachel, Rebekah and Sarah King; Jane and Leslie Allred; Rebecca, Stephanie, Elizabeth "Betsy", Robert "Bobby" and Michael Stillman; a sister, Mary Lou Benson Rogers and husband, Ray of New York; a sister-in-law, Sally Sittel and husband, Richard of California; four nieces, Kelly Pederson, Julie Rogers, Noelle Wyble and Virginia Hart; two nephews, Richard Sittel and John Sittel and a host of other family and friends. Harry was preceded in death by his wife on June 2, 2001, his parents and nephew, Keith Rogers. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, at the First Presbyterian Church in Pawhuska with Reverend Scott Fischer officiating. Interment will be in the Pawhuska City Cemetery. Johnson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.