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William (Bill) Bennett
December 16, 1935 ~ August 22, 2014
August 24, 2014
William Bennett Jr. passed away peacefully at his home near Moyie Springs, Idaho at the age of 78 on Friday, August 22. A graveside ceremony will be held on Wednesday, August 27 at 11 a.m., open to all who knew and loved him.

William Bennett, known as Bill, was born December 16, 1935 in Wascott, Wisconsin to parents William and Leona Bennett. His love of the outdoors and hunting, along with a simple life of working hard and caring for family, brought him to Bonners Ferry along with other family members for a life of logging, engineering, and law enforcement. As a young man he proudly served in the U.S. Army in Korea during the Korean War. He joined and served alongside his friend and future brother in-law, Chuck Lockman, and the two remained both friends and family.

After his time in the military, he married Susan "Susie" Kovar of Troy, Montana and they had a daughter, Robin Marie, both of whom sadly preceded him in death. He remarried in 1967 to Cheryl Ann Lockman (now Myers) of Bonners Ferry. After earning a degree in engineering, Bill turned away from an opportunity to work at Cape Canaveral in order to stay near extended family and the wilderness life he loved. Bill worked for a time with local law enforcement and ran for Sheriff while raising three young children -- Robin Ann, Travis William, and Charles (Chuck) William. His love of the outdoors and determination to better provide for his family, with the addition of his youngest daughter, Summer Joy, drew him back to a logging career. Bill and Cheryl divorced and shared in a very loving, united upbringing of their four children together. In spite of military and logging injuries, Bill not only continued working in logging, carpentry, and auto repair, but also was able to enjoy more time hunting, traveling, and building his own home near Moyie Springs, Idaho as his children grew. As a stubborn and loyal Irish outdoorsman, Bill remained single and happy to focus the remainder of his life on his two great loves; hunting and providing for his family.

Bill was preceded in death by his first wife, Susie and the couple's only child, Robin Marie in 1966, and by Travis William Bennett, his oldest son with second wife Cheryl in 2010. Of his nine siblings, he experienced the passing of his brothers Irvin, Harold and Marvin "Muggs" Bennett and sisters LaVerle Mullin, Geraldine "Gerry" Bennett, Verona "Sis" Brittin, and Betty Horn.

He is survived by brothers Ronald "Ronnie" Bennett of Indiana and Vern Bennett of California, along with many grandchildren and extended family. His surviving children, Robin Ann Bennett, 45, of Deer Park, Washington, Charles "Chuck" William Bennett, 43, of Moyie Springs, Idaho, and Summer Joy Bennett, 36, of Bonners Ferry, Idaho remember their loving father as very strong, honest, hard-working and dedicated, and will sorely miss their dad's example of how to be a dedicated, committed parent, reliable friend, and charming, trustworthy neighbor to all. He not only expressed but showed his love in all he did and wished for them, and all the lives he has touched are better for having known him, and bereaved in letting him go.