George James Benning

Rockham, SD

1936, 793, Hill City, F-9,
1937-41, 2765, Fechner, SCS-6,

George James Benning was born May 26, 1918, at Rockham, SD, to James George and Bessie Florence (Hare) Benning. He attended school and then worked on various farms in the area until 1936 when he joined the Civilian Conservation Corp and came to Hill City. In 1937, George was transferred to Fort Meade where he worked until 1941. He married Beatrice I. Haefner on February 15, 1941, at Hot Springs. Following their marriage, they returned to Sturgis where George worked as a meat cutter for Haley Supermarket. In 1943, he entered the US Navy. Following his honorable discharge, he returned to Sturgis where he worked in the grocery, meat, and catering business for many years.

George will be remembered by many for wooden toys he made under his business name "The Wood Butcher" and for the many wonderful meals catered by George and Bea.

George was a member of the Sturgis Lions Club and the American Legion Post 33.

George, 85, Sturgis, died Monday, July 28, 2003, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Survivors include two sons and their wives, Jim and Beth Benning, Spearfish, SD, and Jerry and Candy Benning, Ilwaco, WA; three brothers, Stuart Benning, Redfield, SD, Daryl Benning, Mountain View, CA and Jerry Benning, of Menifee Valley, CA; one sister, Bev Olson, Las Vegas, NV; seven grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

His parents, his wife in 1994, and one brother, Russell, preceded him in death.

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