Dee Bennett Porter, 79

Dee Bennett Porter, 79, passed away in Kalispell on Monday, Aug. 16, 2010, as a result of Alzheimer s disease. She was born and grew up in Omaha, Neb., the second daughter of Robert and Gladys Victor. She married Jewell E. Ben Bennett, her high school sweetheart, in 1950. They decided together they could either have the finer things in life or kids and cats. They chose kids and cats. They had seven children and a small zoo of pets, and spent 20 years in the Army Air Force traveling all over the U.S. with the entire crew in tow. They moved to Kalispell when Ben retired from the service and bought their first house in the Fair-Mont-Egan area. A short time later Ben died and the neighbors rallied around Dee, becoming lifelong friends. She worked in housekeeping at the Outlaw Inn for many years until retirement. Her main passion in life became protecting the rights of the developmentally disabled and seeing to it services and opportunities for them were expanded. She loved attending all the sporting events of her two athletically gifted grandsons " basketball and football with Brian, and soccer, basketball and track with Jesse. She was excited for months over plans for Brian s 2009 wedding. It was the last family occasion she was able to be a part of. She met her second husband, Robert Porter, in 1991. They spent their retirement together, enjoying fishing, gardening, traveling to visit family and attending many musical events until illness separated them; he to the Montana Veterans Home and she to Immanuel Lutheran Home. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ben; a daughter, April; and sister, Shirley. She is survived by her children, Tom Bennett and wife Tina, Donna Tanzella and husband Francis, Joy Sakariason and husband Terry, Terri Lynn Bennett, Joe Bennett, and Don Bennett and wife Michele; and grandsons, Brian Bennett and wife Jen, and Jesse Bennett; also, her husband, Robert Porter, and his sons, Mike Porter and wife Sue, Todd Porter and wife June; and her wonderful friends, the Old Maids Club, and her Bible Study Ladies. Dee will be buried next to her husband Ben at the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery. In accordance with her wishes, there will be no public services. Friends are encouraged to visit the website at www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.