Burnis Bernell Benton

He was born in Hartville, Missouri, far back in the Ozark Hills, the oldest of seven children. His father abandoned the family leaving them in extreme poverty. Bernie and his brothers began working in the fields locally to earn money. At the age of 15 he quit school to support his family. Some of his earlier jobs were working as a bell hop in the Colonial Hotel in Springfield, Missouri, picking fruit in California, working construction, and driving logging trucks in Hines, Oregon, to be able to send money back home.

In 1949 he joined the Army and served in Korea, earning the Korean Service Medal with five Bronze Service Stars, and the National Defense Service Medal.

From 1962 to 1963 he tried his hand at farming again. He was a country boy at heart, but his overwhelming desire for order and cleanliness was sometimes at odds with the reality of dairy and hog farming. Bernie moved back to Oregon from Missouri in 1963. He began driving logging trucks in Idanha, Oregon, where he met his wife, Shirley.

He had a love of automobiles, and excelled at working on them, making a living as a mechanic after he moved to Portland. He retired from McCall Oil Company as an HVAC Technician.

Bernie never met a stranger, and he would give you the shirt off his back if he thought you needed it. He enjoyed traveling with his RV friends, planting and growing his garden, feeding the birds and squirrels in his back yard, and all of the neighbor cats. But especially, he loved his neighbors and friends, who he invited every evening to “come sit with me,” where they would gather in his driveway and listen to his stories and jokes.

Bernie was much loved and leaves us all better for having had the privilege of knowing him.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Farris, Irvin, MJ, Dallas, and his sister Carlene, a step daughter Mauna Loa Virnig, and his grandson Phillip Bernell Benton.

He is survived by his wife Shirley, children Cindy Ryan of Hillsboro, Oregon, Jeff Benton of Hartville, Missouri, Step Daughter Diania Spencer of North Pole, Alaska, Step Son Marion Spencer of Fairbanks, Alaska, brother Edsel Benton of Republic, Missouri, 13 Grandchildren, 31 Great-Grandchildren, and four Great-Great Grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held at Fairview Cemetery in Gates, Oregon, on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 4:30pm.

If you choose to order flowers, the family requests they be sent to North Santiam Funeral Services in Stayton, Oregon.