Floyd Melvin “Ben” Bennett

Published 10:30 pm Friday, December 18, 2015

July 23, 1936 – Dec. 11, 2015

Floyd Melvin “Ben” Bennett of Bend, Oregon, passed away peacefully on December 11, 2015, after a long struggle with ALS. He was 79.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, December 19, 2015, at 11:00 AM at Deschutes Memorial Chapel, located at 63875 N. Hwy 97 in Bend, Oregon. A reception will immediately follow.

Ben was born July 23, 1936, in Bandon, Oregon, to Floyd and Ruth (Howard) Bennett. His family moved around during his early life, before settling in Klamath Falls, OR. After graduating high school, he moved to Brownwood, TX, to study animal husbandry at Howard Payne University. He enlisted in the US Army, serving in Germany from 1958 to 1960. After returning from the military, he moved to the San Francisco Bay area, where he met the love of his life, Judy Mae Seybold. The couple was married in 1968 in Carson City, NV.

Ben worked as a shipping superintendent for the Stauffer Chemical Co., and later changed careers to become a metal spinner until retiring to Bend, OR in 2001.

Ben was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing and hunting. He also enjoyed Native American history, painting, leatherwork and beading. He had a love for music and played both the guitar and the violin.

Ben is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Judy Bennett of Bend, OR; son Bill (wife Erin) Bennett of Fremont, CA; daughter Erika (husband Curt) Hartmann, of Bismarck, ND; and five grandchildren, Shane, Candace, Liam, Clay and Shania.

He was preceded in death by both parents, son Robert Bennett, and numerous friends and family members.

Memorial contributions may be made in Bens memory to Partners in Care Hospice, 2075 NE Wyatt Court, Bend, OR 97701, www.partnersbend.org.

Deschutes Memorial Chapel and Gardens is honored to care for the family, (541) 382-5592.

Please visit our online register book at deschutesmemorialchapel.org.