Bennet Loy Barnhurst's Obituary
Bennet Loy Barnhurst
Ben Barnhurst, a long-time resident of St. Helens and Goble passed away on August 13, 2008, in Tuality Hospital in Hillsboro, Oregon at the age of 89. Ben was born May 16, 1919, in Short Creek, Arizona and resided since the later 1940's in Eugene and Columbia County, Oregon.
Ben worked as a union carpenter after he returned from World War II while raising 10 children. Ben was a drill instructor in the Pacific Theater serving for seven years before and during WWII. He graduated from Eugene High School in June 1938 and achieved journeyman carpenter status in September 1948. Ben worked on several of the major Columbia River dams in the Pacific Northwest and one of his last jobs was working on the Trojan Power Plant near Rainer.
In May 1946 in Eugene Oregon, Ben married Ruth Petersen, who preceded him in death in January 1970. Together they had 5 children and raised 5 children from Ruth's previous marriage. In 1971 in St. Helens, Oregon, Ben married Sadie Shambow who preceded him in death in 1984 and together they raised Ben's youngest son Roger Barnhurst. In 1988 in Longview, Washington, Ben married Kathryn Olson and lived in St. Helens until her death in November 2006. Ben then moved to Hillsboro to live with his son Roger.
Ben was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a high priest.
Ben loved carpentry and building most anything, fishing, and his family.
Survivors include five children and six stepchildren: son Dale Barnhurst and wife Cathleen of Junction City, Oregon; daughter Lila Higley and husband Dennis of Puyallup, Washington; daughter Janet Bly and husband David of Mesquite, Nevada; son Dennis Barnhurst and wife Rhonda of Longview, Washington; son Roger Barnhurst and wife Kathryn VanNatta of Hillsboro, Oregon; stepdaughter Dorothy Dean of Newburg, Oregon; stepson Norman Crawford and wife Dee of Redmond, Oregon; step-son David Crawford and wife Gay of Rochester, Washington; stepson Richard Crawford and wife Victory of Escalante, Utah; stepdaughter Jean Thompson and husband Vance of Longview, Washington; and stepdaughter Peggy Hoxey and husband David of Thermopolis, Wyoming. Ben was preceded in death by stepson Stanley Crawford in 1962. Ben's grandchildren include 15 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, 22 step-grandchildren, 50 step-great-grandchildren, and four step-great-great-grandchildren.
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