Fox, William ‘Bill’, Aug. 6, 1932- Jan. 12, 2014 Billings Gazette Billings, Montana 14 Jan 2014 William ‘Bill’ Fox Today we lost a hero, our dad Bill Fox. He was born Aug. 6, 1932, to Katie (Giest) Fox and Henry Fox in Hesper, Mont. Dad was the eighth of 13 children. His siblings were Henry (Sonny), Lydia, Victor, Irene, George, Bert, Dorothy, Roberta (Tootsie), Ruth, Jeannie, Raymond and Harvey and a grandson–in-law, Robert Forker. All of them preceded Dad in death, except for Harvey. Dad married our mom, Helen Keller on Dec. 29, 1951, together they had four children: Kathy (Chuck) Frost, Gloria (John) Cole, Billy Fox Jr. and Rhonda (Russ) Wildin. He passed away, Jan. 12, 2014, at his daughter’s house with his children by his side. His incredible journey through life ended after a year and a half of battling cancer. Bill was a humble man, who was easy to meet and talk to. Those who met him never forgot him. He always said, “we gotta have a laugh.” To his family, he could do anything after remodeling a laundry mat into a house three miles north of Fort Smith on the John Lind place. Dad worked for a short time at Yellowtail Dam during its construction, but his heart was always in farming. He worked for several farmers as a hired hand, until 1964, when a good friend, John Lind gave him the chance to farm on his own. From that day on Dad worked hard at being the best farmer he could be. He was the 1984 top Coors barley grower. Dad was always trying to make farming more productive. He always had great ideas. For example, he was the first to have a six-row beet harvester in the Big Horn Valley. He designed a six-row digger by using a four-row beet digger and added a two-row digger and constructed it with the assistance of Zelkas Machine in Hardin. Dad was also instrumental in the development and construction of the South valley beet dump. He raised sugar beets for Holly Sugar, Great Western and Western Sugar Companies. Bill is survived by one brother; his four children; two brothers-in-law, Ben Keller and Rueben Weibert, three sisters-in-law, Carole Fox, Joan Keller and Regina McBeth; 13 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom were very dear to him. A special thanks to two of his granddaughters Jenny Macks and Emily Martin for the extra care they provided their grandfather in his last days. Dad always had a special place in his heart for his nephew David Fox, who looked up to our dad as a second father. Bills’ family would also like to express their gratitude to Frontier Cancer Center, Dr. Martin Lucas and RiverStone Hospice. Rosary will be recited 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Bullis Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be celebrated 2 p.m. Thursday in the St. Joseph Catholic Church. Interment will follow in the Fairview Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary has been entrusted with the arrangement. Should friends desire; memorial contributions may be made to Hardin St. Joseph Catholic Church or to the Big Horn County Historical Museum.

Walla Walla Union Bulletin - May 10, 2013 Harold Benzel Nov. 1, 1918 — May 9, 2013 Harold Benzel of Walla Walla passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 9, 2013. Harold was born in the family home in Walla Walla on Nov. 1, 1918, to German immigrants, Jacob and Elizabeth Foltz Benzel. Harold attended Paine Grade School and graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1939. Harold married his beloved wife, Katherine Frank Benzel, on Nov. 10, 1940. As a teenager, Harold worked for his father’s concrete construction business. Harold also worked for Safeway Stores in Spokane, Purity Market, Frank’s Grocery and Melrose Market in Walla Walla. In 1943, Harold was inducted into the army. He completed his basic training at Camp Van Dorn in Mississippi. Harold was sent to Italy, served as staff sergeant in the 85th Army Division. Upon his discharge, he purchased a food distributing business that he operated for 15 years, servicing grocery stores and restaurants in Walla Walla, Tri-Cities, Pendleton and surrounding areas. In 1962, the Benzel family moved to Redlands, Calif. Harold was employed as manager of Sliger’s Music Store for 14 years; returning to Walla Walla, he worked for Brumbach’s Music Store for a short time until retirement. He loved music and for many years was organist and choir director for Peace Evangelical and Reformed Church in Walla Walla. He also directed the local Youth for Christ choir, and he and his sister, Frances Foltz, were sponsored at a local radio station, singing requests sent in by listeners. Harold’s radio show was called The Sunny Side of 8. Harold was a member of VFW, Blue Mountain Community Church and Blue Mountain Chapter of Germans from Russia. Harold is survived by his children and their spouses, Steve and Nona Benzel of Walla Walla, Mike Benzel of Walla Walla, Mark Benzel and Kris Weatherill of Nashville, Tenn., and Jane and Luis Chaname of Moreno Valley, Calif.; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews. Viewing and visitation will be held on Monday, May 13, 2013, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla. A celebration of Harold’s life will be held at the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 14, 2013, at 11 a.m. followed by military graveside service at Blue Mountain Memorial Gardens, College Place. Memorial contributions may be made to Blue Mountain Community Church, Blue Mountain Chapter of Germans from Russia, or charity of donor’s choice through the funeral home. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.