Donald “Pete” Madison Bennett went home to be with the Lord on July 5, 2021 at age 91. Pete was born to LaRoss & Lillie Bennett on December 30, 1929 in Daisetta, TX. He was raised in east Texas, primarily in Dallas. He attended North Dallas High School where he excelled in both football and basketball. It was in high school that he met his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ through the ministry of Young Life.
Pete went to Whitworth College in Spokane, WA to play football, and start the Young Life ministry in Spokane. It was at Whitworth that he met his wife, Norma. They married in 1952 and went on to have two children, Susan and Philip. Pete worked with Young Life for over 40 years. Through this ministry, Pete and Norma lived in Tyler, TX, Dallas, TX, Tacoma, WA, New Orleans, LA, Huntsville, AL, Memphis, TN, and Nairobi, Kenya. He spent the last part of his life working in ministry alongside Norma at Hope Presbyterian Church in Memphis, until retiring just a few years ago.
Besides being a loving husband and father, Pete lived to serve the Lord in all he did. His influence on thousands of high school students has had a lasting impact. He especially loved getting to share the Gospel at Young Life’s Colorado ranches during the summer.
Pete was preceded in death by Norma, his wife of 68 years, his parents, LaRoss and Lillie, and his brothers, Russell Bennett and Bill Bennett. He is survived by his daughter, Susan Bennett Tucker (Rob), his son Philip Bennett (Cammie), his four grandsons, Robert “Bear” Tucker IV, Brett Bennett, Coby Bennett, and Jaret Bennett. Pete is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Adelaide Bennett of Trinidad, TX, Pat Bjorneby of Estero, FL, his brother-in-law Robert “BJ” Bjorneby (Anna Mae) of Seattle, WA, and many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Pete’s life will be held this Friday, July 9, 2021at Hope Church at 4:00PM. Informal visitation begins at 3:00PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Hope Church @ Hope Giving, 8500 Walnut Grove Drive, Cordova, TN 38018 or to Young Life @ Young Life Giving. YL giving instructions: Enter “1850” for Camp Ministry. Select Letter to YL, with address: 8500 Walnut Grove Drive, Cordova, TN 38018. The online guestbook is available at www.familyfuneralmemphis.com. Private interment will be in Memphis Memory Gardens in Memphis, Tennessee. Live Steam of Service at 4PM CT is available at www.hopepres.com/newlive
II Timothy 4:7-8
