Delores Jean Benefiel Secrest

Delores “Dee” Jean Benefiel Secrest passed away at home in Renton, Washington on November 13, 2024 at 94 years old. She was born on January 28, 1930, in Portland, Oregon. She was the only child of John Logan and Elizabeth (Koch) Logan and grew up with her dear cousins Leatrice Joy (Vinton) Aroff and Gwen (Koch) Krawsky.

She grew up in Portland, graduating from Jefferson High School. She then moved to Longview when she married Roy Benefiel. She worked for the Bell Telephone Company for several years then chose to stay home with her children where she was active in volunteering as a room mother and in the PTA. In later years she worked as a receptionist in a women’s clinic then children’s clinic where she loved interacting with babies and children.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Benefiel in 1989. She was very active in Boulevard Park Church, serving as a deaconess, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school, attending women’s bible studies, and being part of the Outriggers group.

Through church she met Robert Secrest and they were married in 2015. They enjoyed over eight years of marriage spending their time attending church, traveling, and enjoying family until he passed away in March 2024.

Dee loved singing, writing poetry, decorating, and crafts. She made beautiful cards which she shared with family and friends. Her kindness, loving heart, and joyful presences will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her cousin Gwen Krawsky, her daughters Royce (Benefiel) Badley, Denise (Benefiel) Hawes, Kara (Secrest) Parish, Heather Secrest, and her grandchildren Cameron and Brianna Badley and Kayla and Stephen Parish.

She will be buried at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington together with her husband Robert Secrest. The celebration of her life will be held at Boulevard Park Church, 1822 S. 128th Street, Seattle, Washington, on Thursday, December 12 at 1:00 PM with a reception following at the church.