Theodore Nelson Benson

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWZ4-Q57
• Initiatory (LDS): 27 Oct 1939, LOGAN

Notes:

The next to the youngest of eight children born to Serge Ballif Benson a n d Melinda Caroline Nelson, Theodore Nelson Benson died at his home in S pr ingdale.

Born in Whitney, Idaho, he and his siblings all graduated from Utah Sta t e University. An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- da y Saints, he served a mission Brazil and held many positions in bishop ric s and in the Stake High Council. He married Margaret Jayne Todd Febru ar y 11, 1943 in the Logan LDS Temple.

Used by the New Jersey Legislature in developing its highway program, H i s graduate thesis, "Financing New Jersey Highways", was written at Prin ce ton University. Ted Completed the academic work for a Masters at Uta h Sta te and was awarded a fellowship to Denver University.

Holding membership in the Retired Officers Association and the America n L egion, Sigma Chi Fraternity, the Pi Gamma Nu National Social Scienc e Hono r Society, the Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Fraternit y and B lue Key, he was a World War II veteran serving in Okinawa and i n the Arm y of Occupation in Japan.

Recalled to active duty in the Army, Ted served in the Pentagon as an In t elligence Officer. He served as Secretary to the Joint Brazil U.S. Mili ta ry Commission in Brazil, where the Brazilian Government awarded him th e " Order of Military Merit." He worked in the Office of the Assistant Ch ie f of Staff for Intelligence, was a Special Forces Officer, a paratroop e r and commanded a Green Beret Group in Okinawa. Assigned duty in Vietna m , he was awarded the U.S. Legion of Merit and the Republic of Vietnam d ec orated him the RUN Medal of Honor, First Class.

After retiring from the Army the family moved to Pasadena, California wh e re he helped organize a business and taught for two years in a privat e sc hool. In 1992, he and Margaret moved to Springdale to be near Zion N ation al Park.

His wife, Margaret, daughters, Kristen, Elizabeth Benson Cutler, Carolin d a, three grandchildren and sisters, Jacque Benson Bell and Zetta Benso n P eterson survive Ted.

Theodore married Margaret Jayne Todd on 11 Feb 1943 in Logan, Cache, Utah, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]