Wilbur John Bennington

Wilbur John Bennington, 85, of Billings, passed away on Friday, Aug. 4, 2011due to complications of Alzheimer's disease. His family was by his side.

He was born on December 12, 1925 in Miles City, the youngest of five children of Lewis and Erma Bennington.

Benny, as he was known to friends and family, married his high school sweetheart, Vonnie Anderson on August 26, 1945. They would have celebrated their 66th anniversary this month.

A lifelong Montana native, Benny graduated with a degree in architectural engineering from then Montana State College in Bozeman after having served in the U.S. Navy. After earning his degree, he began a 30 year career as the structural engineer for CTA Architects Engineers in Billings, where he served in various posts including chairman and executive director. In 2010, he was honored with induction into the Montana Professional Engineers Hall of Fame for significant structural engineering work on prominent public buildings in Montana including airports, universities, hospitals and schools.

Benny is survived by his wife Vonnie and their children, Kenneth (Jeannie) of Denver, Colo. and Jean (Steven) of St. Paul, Minn, and three grandchildren, Derek of Denver, Colo., Sarah (Rusty) of Myrtle Beach, S. Carolina, and Callan of Austin, Texas. Benny was preceded in death by his son, Gerald.

A celebration of Benny's life will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2011, at 12 p.m. at the family home in Red Lodge, 56 Bannock Trail, Tipi Village. Friends and family are welcome to join in the celebration and lunch.

Memorials may be made to the Wilbur J. Bennington Endowment for Women in the Engineering, College of Engineering, Montana State University Foundation, Bozeman, Montana.

Remembrances

My Dearest Vonnie ,

I am so grateful to have had the pleasure of meeting and serving Bennie ,I will always remember him with his hat ad his smile . Words can not express the the sadness I feel for you .But here is a Poem that brings me comfort .I hope will will bring comfort to you and your family also . My thoughts and prayers are with you !!

Brenda Vincelette

To my dearest family, some things Id like to say. But first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay. I'm writing this from heaven. Here I dwell with God above. Here, there's no more tears of sadness; Here is just eternal love. Please do not be unhappy just because I'm out of sight. Remember that I am with you every morning, noon and night. That day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through. God picked me up and hugged me and He said, I welcome you. Its good to have you back again, you were missed while you were gone. As for your dearest family, They'll be here later on. I need you here so badly, you are part of my plan. There is so much that we can do, to help our mortal man. God gave me a list of things, that he wished for me to do. And foremost on the list, was to watch and care for you. And when you lie in bed at night the days chores put to flight. God and I are closest to you....in the middle of the night. When you think of my life on earth, and all those loving years. Because you are only human, they are bound to bring you tears. But do not be afraid to cry; it does relieve the pain. Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain. I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned. If I were to tell you , you wouldn't understand. But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is over. Im closer to you now, than I ever was before. There are rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb; But together we can do it by taking one day at a time. It was always my philosophy and Id like it for you too; That as you give unto the world, the world will give to you. If you can help somebody who is in sorrow and pain; Then you can say to God at night....My day was not in vain. And now I am contented... that my life was worthwhile. Knowing as I passed along the way I made somebody smile. So if you meet somebody who is sad and feeling low; Just lend a hand to pick them up, as on your way you go. When you're walking down the street and you've got me on your mind; I'm walking in your footsteps only half a step behind. And when its time for you to go...from that body to be free. Remember you're not going...you're coming here to me...