Grandma would have turned 89 just two hours ago! This lovely colorized photo of my grandmother was shared with me by my A(u)nt Pam on 10/11/19. She shared with me today at lunch with my mother at Siena Bistro in Willow Glen that she keeps this photo on her desk. I can see why! What a bright light. Not exactly sure of grandma’s age or exact date, but she’s just old enough where I can see in her face the person she later became. Very nice dress btw.

A photo of Billy (William) Beard, wife Patty, Lawrence Beard, James j Beard, my dad's Sister Betty (Obies) Beard, Uncle Joe Obies, other people i have never met assuming wives. Albert Obies's sister's family, the Beards

A photo of Marian "Joyce" Vandever who passed away due to natural causes on September 10, 2017. Joyce was born in Seattle, Washington to George and Eileen 'Connie' Tasker Benning. She attended schools in Bremerton, Wa where her father owned the local Chevy dealership. While attending the University of Washington, Joyce met her future husband, Frank Kroetch. After their marriage in 1949, they relocated to the Willow Glen area of San Jose, CA, where both their daughters were born. Joyce first worked as an operator at the San Jose Water works, and later spent her career working for Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Joyce served in the position as the secretary to the CFO for over 16 years, then retired 5 years later, while secretary to the head of the mental health division. Joyce loved traveling to the British Isles, taking road trips with her friends, attending plays and musicals, and spending time with her two grandchildren. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Frank Kroetch and Jack Vandever, her sister Lois Benning Ewen and step-brother Charles H. Barrett. She is survived by her daughters Kathleen Pinna and Pam Marks (Neil), grandchildren Daniel Pinna (Lisa) and Layne Marks-Jacobs, and numerous nieces and nephews.

I don't know where this photo was taken but it was probably in Portland Oregon in 1923. George Lawrence Benning holding his eldest daughter, Lois Benning. George was born in Iowa, Lois was born in Oregon.

The photo caption says Portland Union Station, 1922. I'm pretty sure this is Portland Oregon because they lived on the west coast. L to R: George Benning (my grandfather), holding my aunt Lois, Arthur Wilson, David MacBeth, and Robert MacBeth, David's father. (The last identification is tentative, there is a question mark next to it) The MacBeth/Wilson connection is through George's first wife, "Duffy" Wilson Benning, Lois's mother. George married again and had my mother so I have no information on the side of the family that is pictured.

Lois Benning Ewen in Hawaii in 1941. She was there when Pearl Harbor was bombed. She worked on the base but happened to be off that day. Her office was bombed. I was told that she sat on a hill and watched the bombing. Years later, she moved to her family home in Coronado and was a councilwoman there as well as a member of the California Coastal Commission.

Joyce Benning (standing on left) while at work at the local Jr. College near Bremerton; fall of 1948

Connie Tasker Benning, feeding 3 of her 5 dogs at the family home in Bremerton.

William Joseph Benning (1852-1930) and wife, Immogene Nelson Millard (1853-1916) with 7 of their 10 children: William Nelson(back); Henry Clay(back, right); Walter J.(middle,left); Cora Mary (middle); Lois Jemima(middle, right); Mabel on her mother's lap, and Grace (front).

Benning siblings: Walter (top left); Lloyd (bottom right); Lois (middle, right) with husband Paul Los Camp; Mable Benning and husband Earl Twist ((middle, right); Lloyd's daughters Evalyn and Jeanette.

George Lawrence Benning hamming it up with his friend, Nellie.

George Benning with his daughter, Lois Benning, shortly after her birth.

1928 Marriage license of Eileen Constance "Connie" Tasker and George Lawrence Benning in Vancouver, Clark County, Washington

Three generations of the Wilson family: Lois Benning Ewen, daughter of Duffy, James Wilson, the patriarch and father of Duffy, Mildred (Duffy) Wilson Benning.

Photo of Connie Tasker Benning D'Albert taken by her sister, Ethel Tasker Allen, while Connie was visiting in August 1968. Ethel was married to Floyd Allen, and photo is taken in their front yard.

Lois Benning Ewen (right) and her mother, Mildred "Duffy" Wilson Benning, in 1964.

Lois Benning (later Ewen) at age 18.

Postcard photo of First St. in 'downtown' Cordova, between 1915-1918. Postcard dated July 26, 1918 and was sent by George Benning to his father, William J. Benning who was living in Pueblo, Colorado. Per back of postcard, George says "...this is where we are now..wonderful country; the streets don't look like this, but the mountains do. There are some pretty lakes right close here, too. Am going big game hunting soon. I like my ship fine". George was serving in the Navy on the USS Saturn at the time he wrote the postcard.

Photo of the USS Saturn frozen in ice at Vladivostok, Russia. Photo taken by navy man George L. Benning, who served on the USS Saturn throughout World War I

Wedding photo of Connie Tasker Benning and Dewey David D'Albert...Dewey's brother, C.L. D'Albert on right. Wedding reception was held at the old "City of Paris" in San Francisco, as Dewey was friends with the owner.

Photo of George Benning on vacation in Tiajuana, Mexico.

George Benning, on left, with a work friend from their rail-road days in Seward, Alaska.

I believe the photo is of Immogene Nelson Millard Benning, spouse of William Benning. Immogene was the daughter of Horatio Nelson Millard and Jemima Winne. Immogene was born 17 Sep 1853 in Commanche Twshp., Clinton Co., Iowa and died in Pueblo, Colorado. She was the mother of: William Nelson Benning, Henry Clay Benning, Lois jemima Benning Los Kamp, Cora mary Benning Foote, Walter Joseph Benning, Grace Edna Benning Gray, Arthur B. Benning, Mabel Prudence Benning Twist, Lloyd Harold Benning and George Lawrence Benning. Immogene died in St. Mary's Hospital in Pueblo, Co. She was 63 years, 1 month and 18 days old, dying on November 5th, 1916. Immogene died of pneumonia, which she had for approximately 3 weeks. Information on the death cert says that Immogene was born in New York..Immogene was buried at Roselawn Cemetary on 11/7/1916; undertakers Davis & Varries. The death cert also states that Immogene lived in Colorado for 14 years preceding her death, which means they left Boone, Iowa about 1901/02.

This is a photo of George Benning added by Pam Marks on April 11, 2007.

Photo of George Benning taken in Seward while he was a clerk for the railroad...approx. 1920.

A photo of Benning siblings and spouses...

George Benning in a 1921 photo of the office gang for the Anchorage-Seward Railroad. George Benning (purchasing clerk) on far right. The names of the others are unknown.

George Benning on far right...2 of his sisters plus their children in photo with him. Not sure which sisters!

Photo of George Lawrence Benning (on right) taken during WWI on board USS Saturn in waters off Alaska. Friend "Barney" on left...

George Benning and his mother, Immogene Nelson Millard Benning, visiting George's sister Lois Los Kamp and niece, Marian Los Kamp. On a ferry boat ride in San Francisco Bay. Lois on left, George in back, Marian in front, Immogene on the right.

Photo of my mother, Joyce Benning Kroetch and grandmother, Connie Benning D'Albert, in our backyard,Saratoga, CA...circa 1968

Connie Tasker Benning with her 4 month old daughter, Marian Joyce Benning.

A photo of Joyce (Benning) Kroetch. Although her first name was Marian, she always went by Joyce. She was such a cutie!

Sisters Connie and Ethel playing in the snow in Idaho.

Connie Tasker Benning and her niece Nancy Allen.

Photo of Connie Tasker Benning and her sister, Ethel Tasker Allen; taken in front of the gravestone of their grandmother, Sarah Bengough Jones. Sarah was born 10/21/1842 in Llangathen, Carmarthenshire, Wales to Thomas Bengough and Mary Ann Rees. Sarah's marriage to David Jones was her second; she had been previously married to John Bowen on December 23, 1865. Sarah married David Jones November 8th, 1880. Buried in the grave with Sarah is David Hesro Jones, the infant son of David Jones and his second wife, Ann.

Mother's Day at lunch, Joyce and her grandson.

A photo of our grandmother, Eileen Constance 'Connie' Tasker D'Albert, daughter of William Tasker and Mary Ann Jones. Wife of George Benning, Heine Barrett and Dewey D'Albert...

Article in the Bremerton Sun newspaper regarding the incorporation of the Reed-Benning Chevy dealership.

Graduation photo of Marian Joyce Benning. Bremerton High School, 1948.