Gordon Benzie

Gordon David Benzie, 74, died March 7, 2005 at Yuma Regional Medical Center, Yuma, AZ. Memorial services are 10 a. m. , Friday, July 22, 2005 at Taylor Lutheran Church, Taylor, with Pastor Gary Wood officiating. Inurnment will be in Taylor Cemetery with Military Rites provided by Joseph E. Lautz VFW Post #7438. Gordon David Benzie was born February 18, 1931 in Taylor, ND to Dave and Bertha (Elkin) Benzie. He joined the Navy in 1951 and served on the USS Ingersoll. In 1952, he joined the Seabees. He was discharged in 1955. He then returned to Taylor to farm and he also had a construction company. He moved to Minnesota and continued to work in the construction industry until 1968, when he re-enlisted in the Seabees as a Chief Petty Officer and was stationed at Port Hueneme, CA. He served three tours of duty in Vietnam; other tours of duty included Diego, Garcia and Spain. He was discharged after 24 years of service in 1984. Gordon retired to Cedar City, UT. In 1995, he became a snowbird and wintered in Wellton, AZ (near Yuma). He had a passion for collecting, and in later years, studying the Bible. Gordon is survived by his six children: Denise (Julio) Monroy, San Diego, CA, Nancy Benzie, Tehachapi, CA, David (Marie) Benzie, Mojave, CA, Kathleen (Jeff) Schultz, Valley City, ND, Wade Benzie, Ventura, CA, and Valerie Benzie, Green Valley, AZ; eleven grandchildren; one sister, Theola Stetson, and one brother, Donovan Benzie, both of Taylor, ND. He was preceded in death by: his parents; his brothers, Gerald and Lee Benzie, and a daughter, Jacqueline. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Disabled American Veterans Memorial Program, P. O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.


Burial Date: April 7, 2005
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Memorial Service: Friday, Taylor Lutheran Church