Benson Keith Shelton

Benson Keith Shelton (1934 - 2013) On November 18, 2013, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, and friend passed away into the eternities. He was born September 18, 1934 in Salina, Utah to Raymond Devere Shelton and Sarah Adalin Keith.

As a young man, Ben had the opportunity to live in several mining communities in Utah and Nevada but Marysvale, Utah, was the place he would always call home and the townsfolk affectionately called him Benny. In his high school years he played a mean game of basketball and was also quite popular with the girls. Later in life Ben would brag to his children and grand children how he graduated in the top ten of his high school class (which consisted of 9 graduates). He joined the Navy after high school and was a radio operator during the Korean War. While stationed in San Diego he met and soon married Joyce Lee Leitner. Together they raised 5 children: Alan, Ray, Laura, Mike, and Russ. After the Navy, Ben attended and graduated from BYU with a bachelor's degree in accounting. He moved the family to Southern California eventually settling in Corona. While there Ben started his own tax practice which is now run by his son Ray.

In 1992 he became the caregiver for Joyce as she suffered with cancer and passed away in 1993.

Several years later he would meet another amazing woman that would spend the next 14 years at his side. On November 27, 1999, he married Patricia Cate. Along with a new light in his eyes and a skip in his step with Pat, came Pat's 5 adult children and 2 step children to be added to the clan: Kevin, Kerry, Kenny, Kelly, Kerby, Richard, and Linda. Ben and Pat made their home in Sun City. Over these last years, Ben and Pat enjoyed many adventures together traveling thru the United States, and to New Zealand, China, Tibet, Balle, Australia, Fiji, Tasmania, Hawaii, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Laos and more.

Ben loved spending time and doing things for his family. Many years were spent coaching baseball and soccer teams, attending sporting events and music recitals. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and loved to serve wherever he was called. He had a strong unwavering testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ that showed in his kindness, love, and non-judgmental acceptance of everyone he met.

Ben will be deeply missed by his wife Pat, his 5 children - Alan (Justine), Ray (Shana), Laura (Gary) Wall, Mike (Carmen),and Russell (Michelle), Pat's 5 children - Kevin (Cindy) , Kerry Cate, Kenny (Cheri) Cate, Kelly (Craig)Allen, and Kerby (Amy) Cate, 2 step children - Richard Wilson and Linda(Mike) McCaffrey, 40 grandchildren, 14 great-grand children, his siblings - Dick (Betty) Shelton, Roy (Sandi) Shelton, Cathy Amacher, and Kerrie (Kent) Brown. He was preceded in death by his wife Joyce and both of his parents.