Don Gregory Benner

Don Gregory Benner, age 72, passed away suddenly the 14th of August, 2022, due to a heart attack while battling Covid in Woodland Park, Colorado.

Don was born on August 31, 1949 in Arlington, Virginia, to Alfred and Vivian (Treaster) Benner. He graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science - major in Forestry and Wildlife in June of 1973. Don soon became employed with the state parks in Charleston, South Carolina.

A few years later he took a position in Tellico Plains, Tennessee, with the United States Forest Service. Don loved the outside. He would come home from work with stories of wildlife that he saw while walking through the forests. He often would take his children for rides on the river roads and then up into the Appalachian mountains to check fire towers. While in Tennessee, Don also helped as a US National Forest Service Firefighter. He would often leave to fight fires out west. Don would come home with the most incredible stories from those trips. Don would jump out of helicopters on top of mountains and set fire lines so very close to his team that the fire would singe his hair before going out.

After doing this for over a decade, Don moved his family to Lufkin, Texas, to continue working for the United States Forest Service – specifically, in timber sales. Don loved Texas. He loved watching and cheering his children on in sports. He loved looking with his children for their college homes and watching college football. His favorite team playing in the fall was either his Virginia Tech Hokies or any of the teams where his children attended college.

Don moved to Colorado later in life. He was fascinated with nature, aircraft, and religion. He attended technical school to attain a General Airframe and Powerplant mechanic certification from Emily Griffith Technical College in October of 2012. Don loved fixing everything all throughout his life – especially vehicles – it was not surprising when he chose to fix airplanes. While in Colorado, Don learned of Charis Bible College and decided to go back to school, again, this time for seminary. He loved sharing what he learned with his family. Don graduated from CBC with a Masters in Biblical Studies in May of 2015. Don loved practicing what he learned. He loved all people and he wanted to help heal all people. This love kept him in Colorado, where he was a member of the prayer team of River Rocks Church in Colorado Springs.

Though Don's work life was extensive, his greatest accomplishments were being the World's Best Dad for 46 years and the World's Greatest Grandpa and “Mustache Pop Rocks” for 14 years. Don's passing is preceded by his father Alfred Shirk Benner and his mother Vivian Althea Treaster, as well as his third child, Brian Benner.

Don is survived by his children Shannon Benner and her husband, Josh Seabourn, and many grand-cows and donkey residing in Pampa, Texas; Todd Benner and his daughter Addison Benner residing in the Dallas-Fort Worth area; and Bonnie Steen and her husband, Sam Steen, and their children, Jett, Walt, Pre, and Spindrift Steen, residing in Wichita Falls, Texas. Don is also survived by his sister Cindy Brown and her husband, Don Brown, and their children Chris Brown and Erin Miller. Don is also survived by the mother of his children, Lynn Benner.

A visitation service for Don Benner will be on the 19th of August at 7pm at Mountain Memorial Funeral Home, 51 County Road 5, Divide, Colorado 80814. In lieu of flowers, please consider the gift of memorial trees to the US National Forests at thetreesremember.com.

Don Benner has been called home and is very much alive and celebrating in Heaven. Don's greatest wish would be that his loved ones be ready, someday, to meet him there.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Don Gregory Benner, please visit our floral store.