Leroy Henry Benson

Leroy H. Benson was born December 14, 1926, in the family home, rural Pawnee County to William H. Benson and Lydia C.M. (Ulrich) Benson. 

He attended country school at Salem, District 60, 1-8th grade, Pawnee City High School his Freshman year, Burchard High School his Sophomore year, and Pawnee City for Junior and Senior years. He graduated from Pawnee City High School in 1944 with 56 in his class. 

After graduating from high school, Leroy worked on the family farm, did custom work for neighbors, and was drafted to the Army the spring of 1945.  After the war ended, he completed training, then was stationed in Hawaii until he was discharged in 1946.  He returned to Pawnee City and farmed with his father and helped neighbors Joy Wilson and Floyd Mort.

Leroy married Shirley Volle at the Methodist Church in Pawnee City on June 12, 1952. Together they raised their four children Gail, Kurt, Gary and Jill.

He obtained his pilot’s license under the instruction of Shirley’s uncle Glen Fisher. A lifelong farmer, Leroy also worked for Dobson Construction when the highway in front of their house was paved for the first time, worked for Dobson in the Broken Bow area, and worked at BSDC while continuing to farm. 

Shirley passed away April 28, 2013. 

Leroy moved to an apartment in Pawnee City on April 1, 2017, and to Pawnee City Assisted Living on October 20, 2018 where he passed away on November 8, 2019. 

Leroy is survived by his children, Gail (Rick) Mach and Kurt (Deb) Benson of Pawnee City, Jill (Dan) Sunneberg of DuBois, and Gary (Charlotte) Benson of Valentine, as well as grandchildren Fawn Benson Gernstein, Kody Benson, Jeremy Benson, Joshua Benson, Adam Mach, Laramie Benson Hoff, Jacob Benson, Alyssa Mach Kalin, Laurel Sunneberg Duba and Morgan Sunneberg Schlautman, as well as 19 great grandchildren and sisters in law Kathryn Gates of Seattle, Washington and Peggy Volle of Tucson, Arizona. 

He was preceded in death by his parents William and Lydia Benson, in-laws Walter and Floy Volle, wife Shirley, sister Genevieve North, and brothers in law Chester Volle,  Kenneth Volle, William Gates and Wayne North, sisters-in-law, Marilyn Volle and Marian Volle.

Celebration of Life: 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 16, 2019 at the First Presbyterian Church in Pawnee City, Nebraska. Officiating Reverend Duane Westing.  Visitation on Friday, November 15, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family greeting friends from 5-7 p.m. at Wherry Mortuary, 919 G Street, Pawnee City, Nebraska.  Private family inurnment  at a later time at the Burchard Cemetery. Memorials to family choice.  Online condolences can be left on www.wherrymortuary.com.

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