Floyd Oliver Benson, 88
Floyd Oliver Benson, 88, died on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 at his residence in Kalispell.
He was born Dec. 27, 1917, in Mandan, N.D., the son of Emil and Olga (Olson) Benson. He moved with his family to Great Falls, at the age of 6 and attended Great Falls schools and graduated from Great Falls High School. After high school he worked at Ayrshire Dairy during the Depression for $25 a month and also worked at a flour mill in Great Falls.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942, shipping out of Camp Cook in California, and was stationed in New Caledonia. He was a member of the 155th Armored Division. It was at this time that America created the Americal Division. He fought at Guadalcanal and Bogan Ville in the South Pacific.
After the war, he returned to Great Falls and worked at ACM Smelter for nine years. Most of Floyd's working career was spent in aircraft production at Rockwell International (now Boeing Aircraft); building F-86 fighter planes, F-100, X-15 and the B-1 bomber, many of which are still used today. He retired to the Flathead Valley after a few years as co-owner with his brother and sister-in-law of Frenchie's Motel-Bar & Restaurant in Wolf Creek.
He enjoyed motorcycle racing, especially Harley Davidsons. He enjoyed dirt track racing even before helmets were invented. Some of the members of the club were Clayton Bain, Great Falls police chief, Homer Bain and Robert Slack who started calling Evel Knievel by the name of Evel Knievel.
Upon his relocation to the Flathead Valley, Floyd was treated like a king by his nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Olga Benson, and three sisters, Pearl Wilcox, Fern Story and June Kersey.
He is survived by several nieces and nephews, including Shirley Hilbig of Great Falls, Patti Whitten of Kansas, Donna Pettit of Columbus, Miss., Glenn Wilcox of Kalispell; and great-nieces and nephews, Deanna Hilbig, Ed 'Skip' Carter, Emil and Dean Kersey; he is also survived by numerous great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and -nephews.
Funeral services for Floyd will be held 11 a.m. Monday, March 27, at Johnson Mortuary Chapel. There will be no visitation. Burial will follow services at Glacier Memorial Gardens.
The family suggests that any memorial contributions be sent to Home Options Hospice, 175 Commons Way Suite 100, Kalispell, MT 59901.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Floyd's family.