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People we remember
Biographies are where we share about family & friends to connect with others who remember them.
Photo of Pam Marks Pam Marks: George Lawrence Benning was born to William Joseph Benning (1852 - 1930) and Imogene N. (Millard) Benning (1854 - 1916) in Boone, Iowa. He had 9 siblings: Nelson, Henry, Lois, Cora, Walter Joseph, Grace, Arthur, Mabel and Lloyd. He was the youngest. George was married twice, first to Mildred Wilson, and his second marriage to Eileen Constance (Tasker) Benning had Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch. He also had a daughter, Lois (Benning) Ewen, from his first marriage to Mildred (Wilson) Benning. His second family lived first in Seattle, then Portland, then in Bremerton Washington, a small port town which grew during WW2. He owned the Chevrolet car dealership in Bremerton. Micky Reed, the owner of the Reed Chevrolet dealership in Bremerton Washington, was on a local river fishing trip and drowned. Micky's widow, Meeka (who I, his granddaughter knew, since she and my grandmother were friends until they died), sold the dealership to George. He called it Reed-Benning dealership as an homage to Micky. Chevrolet didn't like the fact that a woman (oh lordy, a WOMAN!) sold the dealership on her own so they made new rules. The upshot? When George, my grandfather, died, my grandmother couldn't sell the dealership! He was very active in the business, social and political components of the community. I know that he was a Freemason and a Shriner, and that he had some strong relationships with State politicians. (Note from his granddaughter: George was good friends with Warren Magnuson, first a US Representative and then a US Senator. Evidently, Magnuson used to spend summers at my grandparent's house - I saw a letter of condolence from him to my grandmother when George died, expressing how much he would miss George and referencing the wonderful summers he spent at their house. Also in their social circle? Names that you would recognize today: the Gates' - yes, that Bill Gates family - the Nordstroms , and more. The Seattle/Bremerton community was small then.) George also was instrumental in establishing the Elks Lodge in Bremerton, and was involved with the creation of the Washington Athletic Club in downtown Seattle. George was also a founding member of the Isaac Evans American Legion Post in Seward, Alaska in 1919. One cool story about George: He had a bit of real estate in Bremerton and rented these homes to his employees. Upon George's death his will stipulated that the deeds to the homes get passed along to the employees. Also, the story my Mom (George’s daugher) told me about the homes - the people weren't employees but simply people who lived in Bremerton at the time. Since George was a Mason, he was also involved in charitable activities. Mom said that no one (including family) knew that he had bought (I heard 3) houses for people who had problems paying rent and were going to be evicted. (This was probably around the end of the Depression.) He didn't charge the tenants rent and when he died he left the homes to the tenants. However, my sister (who says she has a copy of George's will), notes that there is no record of any homes being deeded.
Photo of Pam Marks Pam Marks: Wedding of George Benning and Mildred Wilson - Feb. 3, 1921 The Seward Gateway Newspaper: "A pretty wedding took place at the home of Mr. and Mrs. C.G. Jones of Anchorage on Wednesday morning at eight o'clock, February the second when Miss Mildred Wilson, the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Wilson of Portland, Oregon became the bride of Mr. Geo. L. Benning of Anchorage, Rev. Father Markam reading the services in the presence of a small assembly of relatives and close friends. The rooms were prettily decorated with a profusion of evergreens and potted plants. The bride looked charming in a traveling suit of brown Boliva cloth with hat to match. After the ceremony a delightful wedding breakfast was served. Mr. and Mrs. Benning left on the morning train for the Woodrow bungalow for a week's wedding journey. Mrs. Benning was born in Louisville, Kentucky and is a graduate of one of the select private schools of that place and is a fine musician. Later on she moved to Portland with her parents, where they now reside. Mrs. Benning arrived in Seward last summer on a visit to her cousin, Mrs. Eric Lucas, where she made herself very popular with the younger set of the town. Mr. George Benning is the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Benning of Colorado and will be remembered as the popular yeoman on the USS Saturn the Radio supply ship during the war. Mr. Benning having become so favorably impressed with the Golden North, returned at the end of the war to accept a position in the Store Department of the Alaska Engineering Com., where he is now employed as auditor. Mr. and Mrs. Benning will return to Anchorage where they will be at home to their many friends." Feb. 1821 Seward Gateway Newspaper: "The Gateway Flier left Anchorage this morning on schedule time with approximately forty passengers bound for Seward. Among the passengers are Mr. and Mrs. George L. Benning who were married yesterday at Anchorage. Mrs. Benning who will be remembered by her many Seward friends as Miss Mildred Wilson returned recently from the States. Prior to her trip outside Mrs. Benning was in the auditing department of the A.E.C. Mr. Benning is well known in Seward. At present he is with the Supply division of the A.E.C. They will make their home at Woodrow."
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