William "Bill" Benke

William (Bill) Benke went home to be with the Lord on January 10th, 2023. His wife Le Etta preceded him in death on September 20, 2022. He is survived by his son Daniel Phillip Benke, daughter Pamela Ann Noel, five grandchildren, Danielle Benke, Dustin Benke, Drew Benke, Kristel Shelley, Gabriel Noel, four great grandchildren Nova Benke, Aurora Benke, Elowen Shelley and Michael Shelley.

Bill, the youngest of six children, was born on March 22nd, 1927, to Anna and Henry Benke in Pleasantville, New York. After serving in the U.S. Army during WW II, he attended and graduated from New York University with a degree in industrial engineering. This was a new field of engineering at the time and graduates were often labeled efficiency experts who focused on making companies more efficient and productive through such techniques as time and motion studies, statistical quality control, inventory control, method analysis, etc. Bill worked for several companies including Montgomery Ward, Coca-Cola, Welch Grape Juice and finally Boeing, where he worked for 35 years until retirement in 1991 as manager of International Business in the Commercial Aircraft Division. He was regarded as a top business strategist and often wrote speeches for top management.

Bill's life was dramatically changed in his late twenties when he received Christ into his life as personal Savior and Lord. Christian service as a layman became a primary focus from that point, including such service as Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday School teacher, home Bible study host and teacher, trustee and elder in several churches. He served of the boards of Westminster Chapel, Bible Baptist church of Burien, Redmond Baptist Church, Grace Bible Church, Sambica (Sammamish Bible Camp) and Child Evangelism Fellowship. For several decades Bill was also an active member of the Gideons International, engaged in the worldwide distribution of bibles.

He met his wife Le Etta in Kalamazoo, Michigan and they were married in 1956, six months after their first date. Bill and Le Etta worked together as a team in all aspects of life. Bill authored five books, with Le Etta's assistance, published on the subjects of church outreach and real estate investment. Bill and Le Etta received the Volunteers of the Year Award from the Washington Family Council for their work in initiating and editing the bimonthly "Community Impact Bulletin" for many years.

They were blessed with two children, of whom they have been very proud. Daniel became a helicopter pilot, served with honors in the Iraq war with the U.S. Army and later became an outstanding civilian helicopter pilot in a variety of assignments. Pamela became an outstanding registered nurse and mother. Bill and Le Etta moved to Emerald Heights Retirement complex in 2008 and resided there until the Lord called him home.