Benton, Glenn A. – Helena Independent Record

HELENA Glenn A. Benton, 82, loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away at his home on Friday, June 23, 2017, surrounded by his family and faithful caregiver, Justin Giddings. Glenn was born in Lewistown, Montana, on Jan. 3, 1935, to Florence (Barney) and Rodney Benton. He was the sixth of seven children.

Glenn grew up in and around Lewistown where he began his life-long love of horses, the mountains, and hunting. He left high school at 17 to join the Air Force, serving as an airplane mechanic during the Korean War and ultimately was stationed at Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls. During his service, he married and had three children, Rick, Cindy, and Bryce. The marriage ended in divorce, and in 1971 Glenn married his wife of 46 years, Wanda Webb, of Stanford. They had two children, Kimberly and Miles.

After leaving the service, Glenn worked at various jobs in Lewistown and the surrounding area, often holding down 2 or 3 jobs to support his family, from logging, to beekeeping, to bartending, to ranching, and finally working in the construction industry. His work with Morgan & Oswood Construction and Volk Construction found him working on various projects in Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota. Glenn also served as Commander of American Legion Post 16, donated time to the Boy Scouts of America, and served as a deputy sheriff while in Lewistown. Despite his love of Lewistown, Glenn never returned to live there. Glenn settled in Helena where for the better part of a decade he worked on restoring a mansion on the upper West side of Helena, as well as working on the same familys Holland Lake cabin. When the work was completed and Glenn needed a new challenge, he and Wanda started a hardwood flooring installation and restoration business until his health forced his retirement.

In the early 80s, while living in Deer Lodge, Glenn and Wanda traded a bus that Glenn had converted into a motor home for an unfinished cabin above the Nevada Creek Reservoir outside of Helmville where the family spent a great deal of time and labor creating a family retreat where wonderful memories were created.

Glenn never gave up the joy of learning and mastered what he put his mind to. He dabbled with beekeeping, cooking (he especially loved his Dutch ovens and pie making), and greatly enjoyed time in his wood working shop making many beautiful pieces of furniture and keepsakes for his family.

First, last, and always, Glenn loved his familyhis face lit up with a smile when he saw themespecially his grandchildren. Glenn will be dearly missed by Wanda, his wife of 46 years; his son, Rick Benton, of Lewistown; his daughter, Cindy Thiel, of Missoula; his son, Bryce Benton, wife Debbie, and their daughter Chloe, of Helena; his daughter, Kimberly Hooper, husband Troy, and their children, Brandon Cerise and Shelby Hooper, of Helena; his son Miles Benton, wife Colleen, and their daughter, McKenzie, of Helena; and his sister, Dolly Poser, of Lewistown. He was preceded in death by his parents, five siblings, and his daughter-in-law, Debbie Sue Benton, of Lewistown.

The family extends its deepest gratitude to Glenns caregivers this past year: Justin Giddings, Brenda Pineiro, and Melinda Herron. They enriched Glenns life every day. We will be eternally grateful for the kindness and care they extended to Glenn, as well as to Miles, Colleen, and McKenzie who moved in with Glenn and Wanda so Glenn could spend the remaining months of his life in his home. The family also thanks Compasuss (formerly Rocky Mountain) Hospice.

A graveside service with military honors will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 3, 2017 at Montana State Veterans Cemetery. A reception following the graveside will be in the social hall of Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave., Helena, MT 59602. In lieu of flowers the family request memorials in Glenns name may be made to Compassus Hospice, 1075 N. Rodney St., Helena, MT 59601. Please visit http://www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or share a memory of Glenn.

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Benton, Glenn A. - Helena Independent Record