Theron Lavada Beneze

March 12, 1924 – September 23, 2021

Theron Lavada Beneze, known fondly to Family and Friends as “Pat” Beneze, passed peacefully into the arms of Our Lord

on September 23, 2021, at the age of 97.

Pat was born on March 12, 1924 in Alton, Illinois, to Harry and Cecelia Newnom. Theron was the fifth of seven children. Theron spent her childhood growing up in the Mid-West. Always a curious and adventurous child, she had many amazing adventures throughout her life.

Theron enlisted in the United States Marine Corp, during World War II. She was among the very first Women’s Marines. Theron attended basic training at Hunter’s College, New York, and was stationed at both Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and Camp Pendleton in San Diego, CA. She attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and was honorably discharged on October 5th, 1945.

After the war, on June 16, 1946, Pat married Jesse Allen Beneze. Jesse had been a buddy of all of her four Brothers, and grew up visiting the Newnom household regularly. Pat and Jesse were good friends before marrying, Jesse would laughingly tell Pat, “Go ahead and date that guy, you’re going to marry me eventually anyway”, and he was right. The Newlyweds soon started their Family, with Sharon arriving in 1947, Gary in 1948, Leo in 1949, Terry in 1953, and Lori in 1961. Life was busy, but Blessed. At different times, the young family lived in Florida, Illinois, and WA, having followed Pat’s Mother to WA state. The Family settled in Kirkland, and then moved to Redmond, in 1963. Life was never dull, with Jesse working for Boeing and traveling the world.

As the children grew and starting leaving home, Pat began to join Jesse on his work travels. Sometimes it was domestic travel, sometimes foreign travel. Theron loved it all. She was, after all, an adventurer from the beginning. The couple eventually lived in Brussels Belgium for a couple years, making shorter trips to Germany, France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. They also lived in the Dominican Republic for several years, where Pat loved the beautiful beaches and warm weather.

Pat was a talented writer, and she became a Feature Writer for the Sammamish Valley News in the 1960s and 1970s, writing personal interest stories, and writing about local events and people. She also wrote a regularly recurring column, called “Miscellaney”, and a community column called Strattonwood Notes.

Pat’s all-time favorite role in life was Grandma. She was an amazing Mother, and also an amazing Grandmother. Affectionately dubbed, “Gramma B” by all of her many, many Grandchildren, she was a fun and loving buddy to them. She was always up for anything the Grandkids wanted to do, whether it was cruising in Deli, hauling teenagers around in the Lincoln, grabbing a burger at Burgermaster, playing Chinese Checkers or Dominos or Scrabble. Making Grandkids homemade milk shakes, or flying off on the lawn swing to imaginary lands or exotic locations, like China. She was fun-loving, kind, and thoughtful.

Pat overcame many health challenges in her life, she was tenacious and a fighter. Pat had very strong Faith in God, and she always credited her Faith in God as seeing her through any of Life’s difficulties. She lived her Faith, every day, and knew God would see her through. She always said, “Whatever God’s Will for me is, I’ll accept it”, and she did so gracefully. Pat overcame Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, six coronary stents, and blindness in her right eye. Crippling arthritis eventually resulted in Pat being wheelchair bound. She fought it every step of the way, going from crutches, to hand canes, to a walker, to a scooter, and ultimately a wheelchair, but nothing ever slowed her down much. In her later years, Pat loved to sit on her porch in the sunshine and do crossword puzzles, for hours. She loved to visit with Family and friends. Pat always had a sharp, inquisitive mind, and she never lost that. She loved to meet new people, and chat for hours about the exciting things happening in the world, or in her Children or Grandchildren’s lives.

Pat lived a long and amazing life. She was loved and adored by all who knew her. She was easy to love. She had a huge, kind, caring heart, and freely shared that love with others. She Blessed all who knew her. Pat will be missed by so many, but her love and amazing Spirit will live on, in all who loved her. She is irreplaceable, and there will never be another like her.

Theron was preceded in death by her Parents, Harry and Cecelia Newnom, her six siblings, and her oldest Son, Gary Allen Beneze. She is survived by her four children, Sharon Shank, Leo Beneze, Terry Beneze (Claudia) and Lori Stengrund (John). 13 Grandchildren, and 17 Great-Grandchildren. and many Nieces and Nephews. Remembrances may by made in Pat’s (Theron’s) name to Redmond Fire Medic 1 fund.