TORRINGTON – Funeral services for John Robert Benesch will be announced at a later date. He died July 17, 2020. He was 95.
John was born Jan. 11, 1925, on a farm near Octavia, in Butler County, Neb. He graduated from Octavia High School in 1942 and farmed with his father until his induction into the U.S. Army in March 1945. John earned his paratrooper wings and served with the 82nd Airborne Division until receiving an honorable discharge in late 1946.
John attended the University of Nebraska, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in technical science of agriculture and returned to help is father on the family farm. John went to work for the Farmers Home Administration in Riverton in 1955.
John married LuAnne Dalton on June 25, 1955. The couple were blessed with two daughters: Barbara and Ellen.
John was promoted to FHA county supervisor for Albany and Laramie counties. He continued to work for FHA until 1957, when he joined the 1st National Bank in Riverton as an agriculture lending officer. In 1963, he moved to the American National Bank, serving as president from 1969 to 1985.
While in Riverton, John served in several positions with St. Margaret’s Church, the Knights of Columbus and state deanery position. He received the Distinguished Service Award from both the Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Elks Club and was named Boss of the Year. John served on the Central Wyoming College Board, the University of Wyoming Business and Industry Advisory Council, the Bankers Association and the Dubois Bank Board.
John returned to work for the FHA in 1986 and was assigned to the Torrington office.
After retiring, he fulfilled a life-long desire to serve at the St. Joseph’s Children’s Home, later going to work with DSI and running the DSI Thrift Store for several years.
In addition to his work, John enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting and particularly playing bridge and the Rock Club.
John is survived by his wife, LuAnne, of Torrington; daughters Barbara (Joe) Kunsman, Green River, and Ellen (John) Kesler) Columbia, Mo.; a brother, Fred Benesch, Octavia; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, with another on the way.
John’s faith was always very important to him. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He is sorely missed.
