Howard Benge, age 95, passed away at his home in Emmett, Idaho on 12/26/2017. Howard was the son of James A. and Emma E. Benge and was born (6/21/1922) on their ranch on Squaw Butte. The family moved to Star where Howard started school.
The family eventually moved back to the Emmett Bench where he attended Hanna Grade School. Howard graduated from Emmett High School in 1941. After high school, Howard worked on his father’s ranch where they raised beef cattle.
In the mid 1940’s, the family moved their cattle ranch to Ola, Idaho. While there, he met the love of his life, Irene Glenn. Howard left the ranching life behind and moved to Bakersfield, California.
Missing his Irene, he sent a letter and asked her to come to California and be his wife. Irene accepted and moved to Bakersfield, where they wed on May 24, 1947. As a team, they owned and operated Howard’s Garbage Service until 1952.
After their son Ron was born in March of 1952, they decided to move back to Idaho to raise their family. They made a home in Ola again. A second son, Randy, was born in 1954.
After four years of cattle ranching in Ola, their next adventure was to dairy farm on the Emmett Bench. They retired from dairy farming in 1977. Howard and Irene enjoyed many years of traveling to Arizona and other exciting places in their retirement.
They enjoyed fishing and being on the water. If the fishing wasn’t good, they enjoyed camping with friends and maybe a “Happy Hour” or two. Family was always special to them.
They are survived by their sons, Ron (Mary) Benge of Peoria, AZ, and Randy (Willa) Benge of Emmett; grandson, Clint (Etolie) Benge of John Day, OR; granddaughter, Beth (Kurt) Hoagland of Kuna; step-granddaughter, Julie Miller of Nampa; step grandsons, Howard (Julie) Maness of Hurricane, UT, Randy (LaDawn) Maness of Emmett; 3 great granddaughters, 5 great grandsons, 1 great great granddaughter, 4 great-great grandsons and several nephews and nieces from both the Benge and Glenn sides of the family. Howard was preceded in death by his parents, James A. and Emma E. Benge; brothers, Porter and Hubert (Helen) Benge; sister, Bonnie (Ted) Frahm; nieces, Martha Jean Woods and Kay (Dewayne) Skeen; a nephew, Jim (Marilyn) Benge and sister-in-law, Vera Benge. The Family would like to thank the Staff of Horizon Home Hospice for their helpfulness and caring support for Howard and family members.
A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 2, 2018 at the Emmett Cemetery honoring both Howard and Irene. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests giving to your favorite charity. Services are in the care of the Potter Funeral Chapel.
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