Richard Bennett

Richard “Dick” Arlen Bennett 73, of Dickinson passed away Wednesday, December 10, 2003 at his home in Dickinson.


Dick was born September 8, 1930 in Bristow, OK to M. Harlan and Rowena Maude (Ament) Bennett. He was raised and attended schools in Depew, OK later attending high school in Lawton, OK. Dick married Ruth Verlene Lee on September 8, 1948 in Lawton, OK. Dick enlisted in the US Navy in 1947 and was honorably discharged in 1950. He worked for the Oklahoma Public Service Company until 1956. Dick worked as an electrician in various towns in Oklahoma and Texas. In 1970 he started his National Park Service career at Big Bend National Park in Texas. In 1972 he went to work as a maintenance foreman at Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming. Dick and his family moved to Medora in 1974 where Dick became the facilities manager for Theodore Roosevelt National Park until his retirement in 1989.


Dick was the School Board President in Big Bend National Park in Texas. He was a member of the Lions Club at Big Bend National Park, Elks Club of Dickinson and was a National Park Service Target Shooting Champion in Devils Tower, Wyoming. Dick found enjoyment working with computers to the extent he opened Bennett Electronics after retiring. His special love was for his family, grandchildren and two dogs, Bitsy & Chewey.


Richard is survived by his wife, Verlene and children, Ricky (Gayle) Bennett of Lena, MS, Karen (Keith) Wolf of Gladstone, ND; four grandchildren, Eric Bennett and Wendy Bennett both of Pelahatchie, MS, Kassidy Wolf of Gladstone, ND and Krystal Reid of Forest, MS; six great grandchildren and a sister, Dorothy Kuykendall of Etoile, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Robert and a daughter, Anita “Susie” Bennett.


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Burial Date: December 13, 2003
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Service: 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 13, 2003, Stevenson-Mischel-Olson Chapel, Dickinson