Originally named "Whiskers," Benji was the family dog of Myrna (Farley) Hass and her two sons. Benji was given to the family in the summer of 1977 by Myrna's sister, Coleen (Farley) Walgenbach of Brookings, SD. Coleen had learned of how much Myrna's sons had missed the two dogs left on the farm after the family had moved to town in Beresford, SD; and, Coleen had found the two boys a small six month old dog at Watertown, SD. Coleen reported that Benji was supposed to have been a terrier/chuhuahua mix. From his appearance, it was obvious that Benji had terrier ancestry. He was a small blonde dog; and, he never grew in the time the Hasses owned him. Benji loved to chew on his toy rubber hamburger. And, he was always excited when Myrna's two sons came home from school, barking and jumping whenever he heard the sound of Myrna's car coming down the street. He was extremely loyal to his family. It was often said that he probably would have lost most fights; but, he was still very protective of his family and would have died trying to defend them. He truly loved his family. When Myrna's oldest son left for college, she reported that Benji had become very reluctant to eat until her son returned home again. Benji had moved with his family about a half dozen times; and when the landlord's didn't allow pets, the family found a way to accommodate Benji. Benji was staying at the home of Myrna's mother, Mary (Lass) Farley at 900 West Hemlock in Beresford, SD when he died suddenly from heat exhaustion. At Mary's request, Benji was buried on the southeast side of the weeping willow tree at the southwest corner of her yard. And for a time, Mary left flowers on his grave.
Originally named "Whiskers," Benji was the family dog of Myrna (Farley) Hass and her two sons. Benji was given to the family in the summer of 1977 by Myrna's sister, Coleen (Farley) Walgenbach of Brookings, SD. Coleen had learned of how much Myrna's sons had missed the two dogs left on the farm after the family had moved to town in Beresford, SD; and, Coleen had found the two boys a small six month old dog at Watertown, SD. Coleen reported that Benji was supposed to have been a terrier/chuhuahua mix. From his appearance, it was obvious that Benji had terrier ancestry. He was a small blonde dog; and, he never grew in the time the Hasses owned him. Benji loved to chew on his toy rubber hamburger. And, he was always excited when Myrna's two sons came home from school, barking and jumping whenever he heard the sound of Myrna's car coming down the street. He was extremely loyal to his family. It was often said that he probably would have lost most fights; but, he was still very protective of his family and would have died trying to defend them. He truly loved his family. When Myrna's oldest son left for college, she reported that Benji had become very reluctant to eat until her son returned home again. Benji had moved with his family about a half dozen times; and when the landlord's didn't allow pets, the family found a way to accommodate Benji. Benji was staying at the home of Myrna's mother, Mary (Lass) Farley at 900 West Hemlock in Beresford, SD when he died suddenly from heat exhaustion. At Mary's request, Benji was buried on the southeast side of the weeping willow tree at the southwest corner of her yard. And for a time, Mary left flowers on his grave.
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