Barbara Gunsaulis Bennett

Barbara Gunsaulis Bennett was born June 9, 1941, in Spokane Valley, WA, and lived there her whole life. She loved the Valley! She passed away April 4, after a hard-fought battle with kidney disease. Barbara never retired as a Commercial Property Developer and Manager and was working on a new deal the week before she died. She enjoyed being a snowbird in the winter in Yuma, AZ, and spent summers at her cabin on Lake Pend Oreille. She loved hot rods and early Ford cars, drag racing and NASCAR, music, travel, shopping and watching all sports except golf. She collected Depression glass, pottery, Santas and Old World Christmas ornaments. She did stained glass and loved planting flowers in her yard and was famous for her potato salad. Prior to COVID, she enjoyed spending Friday evenings at the Eagles with her Central Valley High School friends. Barbara volunteered at Adams Elementary for years and was awarded the Golden Acorn Award for her service.

Barbara is preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Elva Heritage; her sisters, Joann Anderson and Sally Dauenhauer; her husband of 30 years Richard “Speedy” Gunsaulis and her husband of 20 years Clarence Bennett; brother-in-law, Stevie Bennett; nieces Chris Berglund and Susan Matlock, and her beloved dog Mandi.

Barbara is survived by her daughter and favorite son-in-law, Janelle and John Lee; son and daughter-in-law, John and Molly Gunsaulis; “surrogate” daughters Ammie Ellingson and Beverly Denny; nieces and nephews Lisa and Andy Harding, Eric Anderson, Matthew and Kristen Heritage and Evan Peters; special members of the Bennett family including sisters-in-law, Nancy Howe, Lucille Davis, Mabel Jones and Donna Bennett, Billy Johnson, Tami Strother, Mike and Cindy Bennett and Robbie Madson; and many other special nieces, nephews, cousins and too many lifelong friends to name.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Mirabeau Park Hotel in the Spokane Valley on May 7, from 2 - 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please send all memorials to the Union Gospel Mission.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.HazenJaegerValley.com for the Bennett family.