Bernard 'Barney' Benson

| January 12, 2006 12:00 AM

ST. IGNATIUS — Bernard "Barney" Benson, 83, died Sunday morning, Jan. 8, 2006, at his home near St. Ignatius.

Barney was born March 28, 1922, in Arlington, Wash., to Clara (Hanson) and Samuel Benson.

Barney served in the Navy in WWII and made his home in Belgrade, the Willamette Valley in Oregon and St. Ignatius, where he had been a rancher, with his wife of 56 years, Joan (Mahan) Benson.

Towards the end of his life, he came to realize his need for Jesus Christ as his Savior.

He was preceded in death by his parents and son Richard.

Survivors include his wife Joan at the family home; son Gary (Diane) Benson of Vancouver, Wash.; daughters Debbie Nelson of Lolo and Sharon Benson of St. Ignatius/Missoula; five grandchildren, and his twin brother, Virgil Benson of Bozeman.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, Jan. 12 (today), at 6 p.m. in the Christian Missionary Alliance Church in St. Ignatius with Pastor Chuck Lee officiating.

Interment will be in the Sunset Hills Cemetery in Bozeman on Friday at 2 p.m.