Jay Blake Benson

Jay Blake Benson died on November 2, 2024 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was a champion golfer, father, fisherman, prankster, storyteller, lover, builder of golf courses, cribbage player, skier, best friend to many, and an eternal optimist. He was born October 27, 1956 in Denver, Colorado to Joe and Betty Benson. At the age of two his family moved to scenic Garden City, Kansas. He attended Garden City High School where he pulled off some of the best pranks ever. Charming, handsome and a star golfer – he was elected president of the 1974 graduating class and placed second in the State Golf Championship.

Jay attended Kansas State University and joined the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He majored in Turf Management/Forestry and lettered on the KSU Golf Team. After college he spent a few wild years in Vail, Colorado where he skied, worked for Performance Sports and earned tips playing piano in bars (he would have earned more, but he only knew three songs.) Jay returned to Kansas, began building golf courses, started a family, and eventually moved back to Colorado.

Jay was a founding partner of Redstone, Inc. He built, designed, improved, and consulted on many golf courses both nationally and internationally. His personal favorite was the Rio Grande Club in South Fork, Colorado which won Golf Digest’s Top Ten New Courses.

Jay had two loves - Laura Kadlecek and Patty Jewett. For almost 20 years he and Laura traveled, golfed, danced, and loved. He bought a house across from Patty Jewett Golf Course, and built a wall of flowers to protect his home from stray balls. He won the Pikes Peak Open at Patty Jewett this past summer.

Jay’s true joys were his children and grandchildren. He was always there for them and their friends, doing anything for their happiness, generous to a fault. He raised them on a heavy dose of laughter and sarcasm.

He is survived by his mother Betty, sister Ann, son Forrest, and daughters Natalie and Heather. He leaves behind their spouses Courtney, Travis, and Roman, and seven grandchildren - Hudson, Hazel, Esther, Turner, Idan, Prudence and Gideon.

Jay will be missed by his family, golfing buddies, friends, the band, and his colleagues, all who believed he was “the greatest guy in the world.”

A funeral service for Jay will be held November 15 at 2:00pm at First United Methodist Church, Colorado Springs, CO.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the First Tee – Southern Colorado, 525 N. Academy Blvd Colorado Springs, CO 80909.