John Rees Bench
1927 - 2015
Early Life: He was born February 20, 1927, in Provo, Utah, the third child of Rees Edward and Georgia Eden Christensen Bench. He attended school in Provo, Utah.
Life's Work | Service | Interests: He graduated from Brigham Young University with a BS degree in Chemistry. While at BYU, he met Iris Dawn Bigler; they were married April 9, 1954, in the Salt Lake Temple. After working as a chemist for Geneva Steel, he continued his education at Northwestern Dental School in Chicago, Illinois. Following dental school, they made their home in Orem, Utah, where they raised their family and where he lovingly cared for his patients for 35 years. He was in perpetual motion. He was inexhaustible in giving service and caring for others. He taught his incredible work ethic to his children. They have fond memories of early mornings at the welfare farm, picking cherries at their home, cleaning his dental office, and weeding the garden together, along with travel, laughter, and ice cream. There were few household projects beyond his ability, and few things that he wouldn't try. His independent nature was evident as he continued to care for his home and yard, even when his health made it difficult. He had a wonderfully dry sense of humor and would laugh as hard at his own jokes as others would. He had an enduring and powerful testimony of our Heavenly Father, our Savior, and of the restored gospel. He loved his family and taught them the gospel through example and faithful service. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served with a sincere heart in his church callings throughout his life. He served a mission in the Netherlands, and enjoyed serving a mission with his sweetheart, Iris, at the Liberty Jail in Missouri. He proudly served in the United States Navy and was member of the Kiwanis Club in Orem for many years. Beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend, John Rees Bench, passed away peacefully September 8, 2015, in Highland, Utah, of causes incident to cancer and age. He was 88.
Survived By: His children: John (Elvera) Bench, of Abingdon, VA; Gretta (Phil) Millett, of Salt Lake City, UT; Ellen (Gary) Blair, of Cedar Hills, UT; Andrew (Kerrie) Bench, of South Jordan, UT; Jennifer (Garrett) Seely, of Alpine, UT; his brother and sister-in-law, Sterling and Donna Bench, of Provo; brother-in-law, Mark Bigler, of Ogden; sister-in-law, Margaret Whatcott, of Orem; 19 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Preceded In Death By: His beloved wife, Iris; his parents; two infant children, Richard and Marsha; infant granddaughter, Madeleine Seely; sister and brother-in-law, Carol and Louis Bandley; and sister-in-law, Melva Bigler.
Service: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Chapel Location: Sharon Stake Center | Orem, Utah
Arrangements: Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary
Interment: Orem City Cemetery
Obituary: © The Daily Herald | 10 Sep 2015
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
1927 - 2015
Early Life: He was born February 20, 1927, in Provo, Utah, the third child of Rees Edward and Georgia Eden Christensen Bench. He attended school in Provo, Utah.
Life's Work | Service | Interests: He graduated from Brigham Young University with a BS degree in Chemistry. While at BYU, he met Iris Dawn Bigler; they were married April 9, 1954, in the Salt Lake Temple. After working as a chemist for Geneva Steel, he continued his education at Northwestern Dental School in Chicago, Illinois. Following dental school, they made their home in Orem, Utah, where they raised their family and where he lovingly cared for his patients for 35 years. He was in perpetual motion. He was inexhaustible in giving service and caring for others. He taught his incredible work ethic to his children. They have fond memories of early mornings at the welfare farm, picking cherries at their home, cleaning his dental office, and weeding the garden together, along with travel, laughter, and ice cream. There were few household projects beyond his ability, and few things that he wouldn't try. His independent nature was evident as he continued to care for his home and yard, even when his health made it difficult. He had a wonderfully dry sense of humor and would laugh as hard at his own jokes as others would. He had an enduring and powerful testimony of our Heavenly Father, our Savior, and of the restored gospel. He loved his family and taught them the gospel through example and faithful service. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served with a sincere heart in his church callings throughout his life. He served a mission in the Netherlands, and enjoyed serving a mission with his sweetheart, Iris, at the Liberty Jail in Missouri. He proudly served in the United States Navy and was member of the Kiwanis Club in Orem for many years. Beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend, John Rees Bench, passed away peacefully September 8, 2015, in Highland, Utah, of causes incident to cancer and age. He was 88.
Survived By: His children: John (Elvera) Bench, of Abingdon, VA; Gretta (Phil) Millett, of Salt Lake City, UT; Ellen (Gary) Blair, of Cedar Hills, UT; Andrew (Kerrie) Bench, of South Jordan, UT; Jennifer (Garrett) Seely, of Alpine, UT; his brother and sister-in-law, Sterling and Donna Bench, of Provo; brother-in-law, Mark Bigler, of Ogden; sister-in-law, Margaret Whatcott, of Orem; 19 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Preceded In Death By: His beloved wife, Iris; his parents; two infant children, Richard and Marsha; infant granddaughter, Madeleine Seely; sister and brother-in-law, Carol and Louis Bandley; and sister-in-law, Melva Bigler.
Service: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Chapel Location: Sharon Stake Center | Orem, Utah
Arrangements: Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary
Interment: Orem City Cemetery
Obituary: © The Daily Herald | 10 Sep 2015
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
John Rees Bench
1927 - 2015
Early Life: He was born February 20, 1927, in Provo, Utah, the third child of Rees Edward and Georgia Eden Christensen Bench. He attended school in Provo, Utah.
Life's Work | Service | Interests: He graduated from Brigham Young University with a BS degree in Chemistry. While at BYU, he met Iris Dawn Bigler; they were married April 9, 1954, in the Salt Lake Temple. After working as a chemist for Geneva Steel, he continued his education at Northwestern Dental School in Chicago, Illinois. Following dental school, they made their home in Orem, Utah, where they raised their family and where he lovingly cared for his patients for 35 years. He was in perpetual motion. He was inexhaustible in giving service and caring for others. He taught his incredible work ethic to his children. They have fond memories of early mornings at the welfare farm, picking cherries at their home, cleaning his dental office, and weeding the garden together, along with travel, laughter, and ice cream. There were few household projects beyond his ability, and few things that he wouldn't try. His independent nature was evident as he continued to care for his home and yard, even when his health made it difficult. He had a wonderfully dry sense of humor and would laugh as hard at his own jokes as others would. He had an enduring and powerful testimony of our Heavenly Father, our Savior, and of the restored gospel. He loved his family and taught them the gospel through example and faithful service. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served with a sincere heart in his church callings throughout his life. He served a mission in the Netherlands, and enjoyed serving a mission with his sweetheart, Iris, at the Liberty Jail in Missouri. He proudly served in the United States Navy and was member of the Kiwanis Club in Orem for many years. Beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend, John Rees Bench, passed away peacefully September 8, 2015, in Highland, Utah, of causes incident to cancer and age. He was 88.
Survived By: His children: John (Elvera) Bench, of Abingdon, VA; Gretta (Phil) Millett, of Salt Lake City, UT; Ellen (Gary) Blair, of Cedar Hills, UT; Andrew (Kerrie) Bench, of South Jordan, UT; Jennifer (Garrett) Seely, of Alpine, UT; his brother and sister-in-law, Sterling and Donna Bench, of Provo; brother-in-law, Mark Bigler, of Ogden; sister-in-law, Margaret Whatcott, of Orem; 19 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Preceded In Death By: His beloved wife, Iris; his parents; two infant children, Richard and Marsha; infant granddaughter, Madeleine Seely; sister and brother-in-law, Carol and Louis Bandley; and sister-in-law, Melva Bigler.
Service: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Chapel Location: Sharon Stake Center | Orem, Utah
Arrangements: Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary
Interment: Orem City Cemetery
Obituary: © The Daily Herald | 10 Sep 2015
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
1927 - 2015
Early Life: He was born February 20, 1927, in Provo, Utah, the third child of Rees Edward and Georgia Eden Christensen Bench. He attended school in Provo, Utah.
Life's Work | Service | Interests: He graduated from Brigham Young University with a BS degree in Chemistry. While at BYU, he met Iris Dawn Bigler; they were married April 9, 1954, in the Salt Lake Temple. After working as a chemist for Geneva Steel, he continued his education at Northwestern Dental School in Chicago, Illinois. Following dental school, they made their home in Orem, Utah, where they raised their family and where he lovingly cared for his patients for 35 years. He was in perpetual motion. He was inexhaustible in giving service and caring for others. He taught his incredible work ethic to his children. They have fond memories of early mornings at the welfare farm, picking cherries at their home, cleaning his dental office, and weeding the garden together, along with travel, laughter, and ice cream. There were few household projects beyond his ability, and few things that he wouldn't try. His independent nature was evident as he continued to care for his home and yard, even when his health made it difficult. He had a wonderfully dry sense of humor and would laugh as hard at his own jokes as others would. He had an enduring and powerful testimony of our Heavenly Father, our Savior, and of the restored gospel. He loved his family and taught them the gospel through example and faithful service. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served with a sincere heart in his church callings throughout his life. He served a mission in the Netherlands, and enjoyed serving a mission with his sweetheart, Iris, at the Liberty Jail in Missouri. He proudly served in the United States Navy and was member of the Kiwanis Club in Orem for many years. Beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend, John Rees Bench, passed away peacefully September 8, 2015, in Highland, Utah, of causes incident to cancer and age. He was 88.
Survived By: His children: John (Elvera) Bench, of Abingdon, VA; Gretta (Phil) Millett, of Salt Lake City, UT; Ellen (Gary) Blair, of Cedar Hills, UT; Andrew (Kerrie) Bench, of South Jordan, UT; Jennifer (Garrett) Seely, of Alpine, UT; his brother and sister-in-law, Sterling and Donna Bench, of Provo; brother-in-law, Mark Bigler, of Ogden; sister-in-law, Margaret Whatcott, of Orem; 19 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Preceded In Death By: His beloved wife, Iris; his parents; two infant children, Richard and Marsha; infant granddaughter, Madeleine Seely; sister and brother-in-law, Carol and Louis Bandley; and sister-in-law, Melva Bigler.
Service: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Chapel Location: Sharon Stake Center | Orem, Utah
Arrangements: Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary
Interment: Orem City Cemetery
Obituary: © The Daily Herald | 10 Sep 2015
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
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MARRIED APR. 9, 1954
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