Anchorage Daily News February 20, 2008
Anchorage resident Mitchell J. Bennett, 96, died Feb. 16, 2008, at the Anchorage Pioneers' Home. A visitation was at Evergreen Memorial Chapel with a service afterward. Brother Mark Francis Manzano officiated. Burial was at Angelus Memorial Park Cemetery in the spring.
Mitchell was born March 26, 1911, in Walden, Vt., to John J. Bennett Sr. and Jane Honora "Nora" Goslant Bennett. He was second to the oldest of four brothers and a sister. As a young lad, he and his brother "Jake" had to work in their dad's sawmill. After his father died at a young age, Mitch worked as a bellhop at a hotel in Barry, Vt., to help support the family. He also did some steam-powered crane operating before heading to the West Coast to work. During this time, he was a member of the Vermont National Guard and had the honor of guarding Charles Lindberg's airplane, The Spirit of St. Louis, while it was in Barry. In his mid 20s, he left for Oregon to work on the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River. His brother Jake was already working there. Mitch joined the Operating Engineers Union in Portland, Ore., in 1937, prior to working at Bonneville Dam. Later he worked as a crane operator on the McNary Dam. In 1938, Mitch married Alma Cramer in Ilwaco, Wash. Two years later, Mitch was hired to go to work in Sitka and build seaplane ramps for the Navy. During this time, he worked as a crane operator for Puget Sound-Drake Construction Co. After working in Sitka, Mitch and his crew, the crane, and materials were loaded aboard a ship to go to Kodiak to build seaplane ramps. While under way, they were diverted to Dutch Harbor. Shortly after arriving in Dutch Harbor, he received news that his wife, Alma, was arriving from Sitka. There were no quarters available for married couples, and Mitch had to scramble to find a place for himself and Alma. Finally, the local marshal guided him to see the Russian Orthodox priest for a sleeping place in the church loft. It was cold, but they survived. Shortly after, when he and Alma had left for rest and relaxation, the Japanese bombed Dutch Harbor. He decided not to go back. He then went to work for Henry Kaiser at Richmond, Calif., building liberty ships. He was the crane foreman at Yard 3 during the World War II years. After the war, Mitch came to Anchorage to work construction on the military bases. He worked around Alaska for many years as a crane operator. In 1960, Mitch purchased a new crane from the factory in Ohio. He had it shipped to Clear to work on the early warning site. Later, he worked his own business, Mitch Bennett Co. Crane and Rigging on numerous projects around Anchorage and Kenai. He sold out and retired in 1976. Mitch liked halibut fishing, hunting and camping. He also enjoyed gardening and had a big raspberry patch.
Mitchell is survived by his brother, John B. Goslant Bennett and his wife, Jane; nieces, Diana Rybezynski, Carol (Gene) Eaton, of Anchorage and Philicianna Bennett of Juneau; nephews, Clifton (Arlene) Bennett of Vermont, Mitch (Gwen) Bennett of Alabama and John Bennett of Washington state. He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Alma Cramer Bennett; brothers, Henry "Jake" Bennett, Clifton Bennett and Alvin Bennett; sister, Rose Bennett; and parents, John and Nora Bennett. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
Anchorage resident Mitchell J. Bennett, 96, died Feb. 16, 2008, at the Anchorage Pioneers' Home. A visitation was at Evergreen Memorial Chapel with a service afterward. Brother Mark Francis Manzano officiated. Burial was at Angelus Memorial Park Cemetery in the spring.
Mitchell was born March 26, 1911, in Walden, Vt., to John J. Bennett Sr. and Jane Honora "Nora" Goslant Bennett. He was second to the oldest of four brothers and a sister. As a young lad, he and his brother "Jake" had to work in their dad's sawmill. After his father died at a young age, Mitch worked as a bellhop at a hotel in Barry, Vt., to help support the family. He also did some steam-powered crane operating before heading to the West Coast to work. During this time, he was a member of the Vermont National Guard and had the honor of guarding Charles Lindberg's airplane, The Spirit of St. Louis, while it was in Barry. In his mid 20s, he left for Oregon to work on the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River. His brother Jake was already working there. Mitch joined the Operating Engineers Union in Portland, Ore., in 1937, prior to working at Bonneville Dam. Later he worked as a crane operator on the McNary Dam. In 1938, Mitch married Alma Cramer in Ilwaco, Wash. Two years later, Mitch was hired to go to work in Sitka and build seaplane ramps for the Navy. During this time, he worked as a crane operator for Puget Sound-Drake Construction Co. After working in Sitka, Mitch and his crew, the crane, and materials were loaded aboard a ship to go to Kodiak to build seaplane ramps. While under way, they were diverted to Dutch Harbor. Shortly after arriving in Dutch Harbor, he received news that his wife, Alma, was arriving from Sitka. There were no quarters available for married couples, and Mitch had to scramble to find a place for himself and Alma. Finally, the local marshal guided him to see the Russian Orthodox priest for a sleeping place in the church loft. It was cold, but they survived. Shortly after, when he and Alma had left for rest and relaxation, the Japanese bombed Dutch Harbor. He decided not to go back. He then went to work for Henry Kaiser at Richmond, Calif., building liberty ships. He was the crane foreman at Yard 3 during the World War II years. After the war, Mitch came to Anchorage to work construction on the military bases. He worked around Alaska for many years as a crane operator. In 1960, Mitch purchased a new crane from the factory in Ohio. He had it shipped to Clear to work on the early warning site. Later, he worked his own business, Mitch Bennett Co. Crane and Rigging on numerous projects around Anchorage and Kenai. He sold out and retired in 1976. Mitch liked halibut fishing, hunting and camping. He also enjoyed gardening and had a big raspberry patch.
Mitchell is survived by his brother, John B. Goslant Bennett and his wife, Jane; nieces, Diana Rybezynski, Carol (Gene) Eaton, of Anchorage and Philicianna Bennett of Juneau; nephews, Clifton (Arlene) Bennett of Vermont, Mitch (Gwen) Bennett of Alabama and John Bennett of Washington state. He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Alma Cramer Bennett; brothers, Henry "Jake" Bennett, Clifton Bennett and Alvin Bennett; sister, Rose Bennett; and parents, John and Nora Bennett. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
Anchorage Daily News February 20, 2008
Anchorage resident Mitchell J. Bennett, 96, died Feb. 16, 2008, at the Anchorage Pioneers' Home. A visitation was at Evergreen Memorial Chapel with a service afterward. Brother Mark Francis Manzano officiated. Burial was at Angelus Memorial Park Cemetery in the spring.
Mitchell was born March 26, 1911, in Walden, Vt., to John J. Bennett Sr. and Jane Honora "Nora" Goslant Bennett. He was second to the oldest of four brothers and a sister. As a young lad, he and his brother "Jake" had to work in their dad's sawmill. After his father died at a young age, Mitch worked as a bellhop at a hotel in Barry, Vt., to help support the family. He also did some steam-powered crane operating before heading to the West Coast to work. During this time, he was a member of the Vermont National Guard and had the honor of guarding Charles Lindberg's airplane, The Spirit of St. Louis, while it was in Barry. In his mid 20s, he left for Oregon to work on the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River. His brother Jake was already working there. Mitch joined the Operating Engineers Union in Portland, Ore., in 1937, prior to working at Bonneville Dam. Later he worked as a crane operator on the McNary Dam. In 1938, Mitch married Alma Cramer in Ilwaco, Wash. Two years later, Mitch was hired to go to work in Sitka and build seaplane ramps for the Navy. During this time, he worked as a crane operator for Puget Sound-Drake Construction Co. After working in Sitka, Mitch and his crew, the crane, and materials were loaded aboard a ship to go to Kodiak to build seaplane ramps. While under way, they were diverted to Dutch Harbor. Shortly after arriving in Dutch Harbor, he received news that his wife, Alma, was arriving from Sitka. There were no quarters available for married couples, and Mitch had to scramble to find a place for himself and Alma. Finally, the local marshal guided him to see the Russian Orthodox priest for a sleeping place in the church loft. It was cold, but they survived. Shortly after, when he and Alma had left for rest and relaxation, the Japanese bombed Dutch Harbor. He decided not to go back. He then went to work for Henry Kaiser at Richmond, Calif., building liberty ships. He was the crane foreman at Yard 3 during the World War II years. After the war, Mitch came to Anchorage to work construction on the military bases. He worked around Alaska for many years as a crane operator. In 1960, Mitch purchased a new crane from the factory in Ohio. He had it shipped to Clear to work on the early warning site. Later, he worked his own business, Mitch Bennett Co. Crane and Rigging on numerous projects around Anchorage and Kenai. He sold out and retired in 1976. Mitch liked halibut fishing, hunting and camping. He also enjoyed gardening and had a big raspberry patch.
Mitchell is survived by his brother, John B. Goslant Bennett and his wife, Jane; nieces, Diana Rybezynski, Carol (Gene) Eaton, of Anchorage and Philicianna Bennett of Juneau; nephews, Clifton (Arlene) Bennett of Vermont, Mitch (Gwen) Bennett of Alabama and John Bennett of Washington state. He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Alma Cramer Bennett; brothers, Henry "Jake" Bennett, Clifton Bennett and Alvin Bennett; sister, Rose Bennett; and parents, John and Nora Bennett. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
Anchorage resident Mitchell J. Bennett, 96, died Feb. 16, 2008, at the Anchorage Pioneers' Home. A visitation was at Evergreen Memorial Chapel with a service afterward. Brother Mark Francis Manzano officiated. Burial was at Angelus Memorial Park Cemetery in the spring.
Mitchell was born March 26, 1911, in Walden, Vt., to John J. Bennett Sr. and Jane Honora "Nora" Goslant Bennett. He was second to the oldest of four brothers and a sister. As a young lad, he and his brother "Jake" had to work in their dad's sawmill. After his father died at a young age, Mitch worked as a bellhop at a hotel in Barry, Vt., to help support the family. He also did some steam-powered crane operating before heading to the West Coast to work. During this time, he was a member of the Vermont National Guard and had the honor of guarding Charles Lindberg's airplane, The Spirit of St. Louis, while it was in Barry. In his mid 20s, he left for Oregon to work on the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River. His brother Jake was already working there. Mitch joined the Operating Engineers Union in Portland, Ore., in 1937, prior to working at Bonneville Dam. Later he worked as a crane operator on the McNary Dam. In 1938, Mitch married Alma Cramer in Ilwaco, Wash. Two years later, Mitch was hired to go to work in Sitka and build seaplane ramps for the Navy. During this time, he worked as a crane operator for Puget Sound-Drake Construction Co. After working in Sitka, Mitch and his crew, the crane, and materials were loaded aboard a ship to go to Kodiak to build seaplane ramps. While under way, they were diverted to Dutch Harbor. Shortly after arriving in Dutch Harbor, he received news that his wife, Alma, was arriving from Sitka. There were no quarters available for married couples, and Mitch had to scramble to find a place for himself and Alma. Finally, the local marshal guided him to see the Russian Orthodox priest for a sleeping place in the church loft. It was cold, but they survived. Shortly after, when he and Alma had left for rest and relaxation, the Japanese bombed Dutch Harbor. He decided not to go back. He then went to work for Henry Kaiser at Richmond, Calif., building liberty ships. He was the crane foreman at Yard 3 during the World War II years. After the war, Mitch came to Anchorage to work construction on the military bases. He worked around Alaska for many years as a crane operator. In 1960, Mitch purchased a new crane from the factory in Ohio. He had it shipped to Clear to work on the early warning site. Later, he worked his own business, Mitch Bennett Co. Crane and Rigging on numerous projects around Anchorage and Kenai. He sold out and retired in 1976. Mitch liked halibut fishing, hunting and camping. He also enjoyed gardening and had a big raspberry patch.
Mitchell is survived by his brother, John B. Goslant Bennett and his wife, Jane; nieces, Diana Rybezynski, Carol (Gene) Eaton, of Anchorage and Philicianna Bennett of Juneau; nephews, Clifton (Arlene) Bennett of Vermont, Mitch (Gwen) Bennett of Alabama and John Bennett of Washington state. He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Alma Cramer Bennett; brothers, Henry "Jake" Bennett, Clifton Bennett and Alvin Bennett; sister, Rose Bennett; and parents, John and Nora Bennett. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
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