Johann Heinrich (Henry) BENNER

                   Former La Conner resident Dr. Robert  E. Benner, 70, died Thursday, Nov 16, 1989, in a local nursing home.

He served as a lieutenant in the U. S. Army during World War II. He was a pilot and was recognized for valor in combat in Italy.

He is survived by three daughters,  two sons, one brother and three grandchildren.

Private cremation was conducted at Mount Vernon Crematory under the direction of Kern Funeral Home. Private family service will be conducted with inurnment at Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, Neb.


20 May 1944

At a 12th AAF B-26 Marauder  Bomber  Base -- Robert E. Benner has been promoted to the rank of first Lieutenant. He has been awarded the Air Medal and the European Campaign ribbon.

Lieutenant Benner is first pilot in a fast B-26 Marauder in Major General John K. Canon's 12th AAF. He attended flying school at Bonham, Tex., Perrin FIeld, Sherman, Tex., and graduated from advanced flying school at Altus, Okla., where he received his flying wings.

One of his hottest attacks was on a road bridge at Caprano. The formation enountered intenst, heavy, accurate flak and the cockpit was filled with smoke. Lieutenant Benner piuloted the plan through the flak without injury to the crew or serious damage to the plane.

In a raid over Perogia in June, 1943, his place was hit and seriously damaged by flak. The hydraulic system was shot out making necessary the landing gear be pumped down by hand. And in addition, unknown to the crew, one of the main tires was flat. Added to these hazards, as he came in for a landing a truck started across the runway in front of him. It was necessary to get up a great deal of speed suddenly to hope over the truck. As a result the plane landed with far too much speed, the flat tire threw the plane left of the landing strip into the parking area. With coolness and skill, Lieutenant Benner managed to dodge all the parked aircraft with the fast moving ship bringing his place to a stop in a ditch. None of the crew were injured.

Lieutenant Benner graduated from Scribner High school in 1936, and attended the University of Nebraska Engineering  School for four years. He is son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Benner of Scribner, and has a brother, Charles H. Benner, also serving with the Army Air Corps.
                  

                   Julesburg Advocate
Thursday, February 15, 1996
page 3

Obituary

Benner

Memorial services for Charles H. Benner, 73, will be held Saturday, February 17, 1996 at 2:30 P.M., at the Mennonite Church in Julesburg with the Rev. Arthur Roth officiating.  Interment will follow at Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, Nebr.  He died on Thursday, February 8, 1996 in the Nebraska Veterans Home in Grand Island, Nebr.

He was born on October 27, 1922 to Henry J. and Dora L. (Ditson) Benner at the family farm in Ridgley Township southwest of Scribner, Nebr.  He attended District 12 School in Ridgley through the tenth grade and graduated from Scribner High School in 1939.  After graduation he farmed with his father before entering the United States Army Air Corps Division for training as a pilot, in April, 1944.

On June 2, 1945 in Yuma, Ariz., he was united in marriage to Florence Elaine Brandenburg.  After his discharge from the service later that year, the couple returned to Scribner to make their home.  While in Scribner, he worked for the Sinclair service station.  He also drove truck for Magnusson and Clough Trucking of Uehling, Nebr.  He started his own trucking operation which he operated for 11 years and managed the Scribner Co-op for 10 years.

Four children were born to the couple during their years in Scribner: Todd Ryan in 1947, Mary Beth in 1952, John Reed in 1954 and Gail Anne in 1961 and in June of 1966 on the couple's 21st wedding anniversary, their youngest child, Scot Alan was born.

In 1964 the family moved to Venango, Nebr., where he served as manager for the Farmer's Union Co-op Grain Company for 14 years.  During his years in Venango, he was a member of the American Legion and the Lions' Club and served as a school board member for the Venango Public School.

In 1982, the Benners moved to Julesburg, where he was manager for Kinnie Grain Company.  The couple joined the Mennonite Church in Julesburg. Later he worked for the farming operation of Bruce Holcombe of Big Springs, Nebr., until his first stroke in October of 1987.

He spent his later years in the Veterans Hospital in Cheyenne, WY. and Grand Island, Nebr.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henty J. and Dora L. Benner and his only brother, Robert E. Benner.  He is survived by his wife, Florence of Julesburg;  sons and daughters-in-law, Todd of Lincoln, Nebr.,  John and wife Lori of Smithfield, Nebr., Scot and wife Julie of Omaha, Nebr. and daughters and sons-in-law Mary Ingram and husband Doug of Cozad, Nebr. and Gail and husband Gary Elsasser of Oakland, Nebr.;  eight grandsons and three granddaughters.