Roland D. Benson

Mr. Benson passed away in Clackamas, Oregon on January 4, 2017 at age 84.

Roland was born January 28, 1932 in Bend, Oregon to Hugo and Nellie (Johannson) Benson. He was a 1950 graduate of Bend High School. After school, Roland joined the US Navy and served honorably in Korea. During his tour of duty, Mr. Benson completed an around-the-world tour.

On April 8, 1960 he married Julianne Wanaka in Portland. They had three children – Kirsten, Karin, and Ronald. Roland worked as a night security guard for Union Pacific Railroad for a time before joining the Portland Police on June 1, 1960, where he served for thirty-two years, the last seventeen as a detective.

Whenever he could, Roland loved to go camping, hunt, and especially fish. He fished occasionally for salmon off the Oregon coast, but most often lake fished in central Oregon. He also enjoyed league bowling, built his own boat and home, avidly attended his grandsons’ sporting events, and supported Oregon State teams.

Friends were very important to him, and he tended to keep them for a long time. He still kept in touch with people he had met during his career or even from high school. His family was constantly amazed that he would run into people he knew at any time and place.

Mr. Benson was preceded in death by his three older brothers.

He will be remembered and missed by

his wife of over 56 years, Julianne Benson of Portland;

three children, Kirsten Auda and husband Rob of Troutdale and their son Kyle, Karin Brunette and husband Bruce of Boring and their son Austin, and Ronald Benson and his wife Patty of Lincoln City.

The family would be grateful for donations in Mr. Benson’s name to Portland Rescue Mission.