Irene Fern Benge passed away February 11, 2015 at Cherry Ridge Care Center in Emmett, Idaho, at the age of 91. She was born April 24, 1924 in Ola, Idaho at the home of her parents Sherman and Naomi Glenn. Irene was raised in Ola, schooled till 8th grade.
She went to High School in Emmett and graduated in the class of 1942. After High School she attended Boise Secretarial School in Boise, Idaho and after her graduation from Secretarial School got a job with OPA (Office of Price Administration). She worked there till leaving Idaho for her next adventure in life in Bakersfield, California where she married her life- long partner, Howard Benge.
There they owned and operated Howard’s Garbage Service till 1952. She was the bookkeeper and office manager. In March of that year their first son, Ron, was born and later that year they decided to move back to Idaho to raise their family.
They made a home in Ola again, back to where they had met. A second son, Randy, was born in 1954. After 4 years of cattle ranching in Ola, the next adventure was to a dairy on the Emmett Bench, Hanna area where she was a member of the Hanna Ladies Club, Hanna PTA, Cub Scout Leader, taxi service for her two boys and their friends.
She was Howard’s right hand on the dairy farm, driving tractor and truck until 1977 when they retired. In their retirement she and Howard enjoyed many years of traveling to Arizona and other exciting places that had good fishing. She did enjoy being on the water as long as it wasn’t the ocean.
If the fishing wasn’t so good the camping and friends were always a joy to her, maybe even a Happy Hour or two. Her family was always special to her. Irene was survived by her husband, Howard, of 68 1/2 years; 2 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 Boise; step-grandsons, Howard (Julie) Maness of Hurricane, UT, Randy (LaDawn) Maness of Boise; sister, Marie Hill of Boise, ID; her favorite nephew, Glen (Lorene) Morrow; nieces, Lois Brooks (Bob Brock), Linda Green (Dave Gregg), Donna (Bill) Cutbirth, Joyce (Butch) Biggers and Ray Mullins.
She was preceded in death by her Dad and Mom, Sherman and Naomi Glenn; brother, Asa (Margaret) Glenn; sisters, Helen (Friday) Blessinger, Bessie (Charlie) Morrow, Melva (Glen) Baldwin; brother-in-law, Orville Hill; nieces, IO Sowell, Joann Mullins, Shirley (Nick) Chirico and Lucile(AL)Sanders. The family would like to thank the staff of Cherry Ridge for their helpfulness and caring support for Howard and family members. Also, thank you to Heart ‘N Home Hospice.
A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 2, 2018 at the Emmett Cemetery honoring both Irene and Howard. In lieu of flowers the family requests to give to your favorite charity.
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