Ronald Martin Beneke

Ronald (Ron) Martin Beneke, 82, of Dallas, Texas, passed away peacefully on September 13, 2026. He was born on August 21, 1944, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Luther Henry Beneke and Helen Gertrude Sutherland Beneke and was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church. From an early age, two things would come to define Ron’s life: an extraordinary willingness to work hard and an abiding belief that the purpose of all that work was to care for the people he loved.

Ron grew up in San Antonio as one of seven children in a three-bedroom house. He got his first job, a paper route, at the age of 12, marking the beginning of the work ethic that would shape his life. Convinced that education was his path to opportunity, he used his earnings as a paper carrier to pay his way through Central Catholic High School, where he graduated in 1962. He went on to St. Mary's University, funding his tuition by working as a laundry counter clerk, selling uniforms on commission to cadets at Lackland Air Force Base, and driving a bakery delivery truck at night. He graduated in 1966 with a triple major in psychology, philosophy, and government. Determined to earn his law degree, he taught math by day at Mark Twain Junior High School and attended St. Mary's School of Law at night, graduating in 1969.

It was at Mark Twain that Ron met a young teacher named Jane Klaeveman, the love of his life. She caught his eye, and he caught hers. Their dates were spent cooking and dreaming of the life they would build together. On Leap Day in 1972, Jane opened her door with a broad smile, pinched him, and said, "I got you. You are mine. It's Sadie Hawkins Day." Ron answered, "If I am yours, you are mine, and if you are mine, you need a ring," and slipped the ring-shaped $1,000 bill he had been secretly carrying for weeks onto her finger. They were married that May in San Antonio and continued to celebrate the Leap Day proposal as much as the wedding itself over the next 54 years.

Professionally, Ron brought that same work ethic to law and real estate. In 1973, he and Jane moved to Dallas, where Ron became a law partner at Stalcup, Johnson, Meyers and Miller before co-founding his own law firm and growing it to 40 attorneys. In 1982, he transitioned into the real estate, becoming a partner at Lincoln Property Company. There, he helped navigate the business through the Savings and Loan Crisis. In 1992, Ron co-founded B/K Real Estate Funds and went on to build a nationwide real estate company backed by prominent investment banks and pension funds. He later opened his own family office, through which he pursued many other ventures.

For all his hard work, Ron never lost sight of what it was for. Everything he built and every challenge he overcame was in service of the people he loved. After ten years of marriage, he and Jane welcomed their first son, Brian, and four years later, twins Alex and Mark. They raised their sons in Highland Park and in the Catholic faith. Ron was always present in his sons' lives. When they were young, he read to them at night in different voices to make them laugh, pushed them academically, encouraged them to become Eagle Scouts, took them on trips around the world, and showed up for every school event. Ron regularly told them how proud he was and how truly loved they were, and he reminded them to love one another and to find their faith in God. Ron cared for his parents and siblings with the same devotion his parents had shown him. Still, the greatest love of his life was, and always will be, Jane. His perfect day was simply holding her hand and being with her.

That care extended well beyond his family. Ron was a generous supporter of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, AT&T Performing Arts Center, Highland Park Library, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Away from public recognition, he quietly helped fund the college educations of many students in need. His faith guided his life and taught him what it meant to love, to believe, and to put the care of others first.

Ron is survived by his wife of 54 years, Jane Beneke; his sons, Brian Beneke and Mark Beneke; his brother, Robert Beneke; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, cherished friends, and loved ones who were a constant source of joy in his life. He was preceded in death by his parents, Luther and Helen Beneke; his sisters, Melanie and Debra Beneke; his brothers, Charles, Larry, and Thomas Beneke; and his beloved son, Alex Beneke.

A viewing will be held on Monday, September 21, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Sparkman/Hillcrest in Dallas, Texas. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, September 22, at 2:00 p.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, followed by interment and a reception at Sparkman/Hillcrest. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in his memory to Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

Ron lived by the words, "The one happiness in life is loving and being loved," and he had that happiness in full. His deepest hope was that his sons would carry that love forward, for their mother, for one another, and for others. He will be deeply missed and forever loved. Ron, Dad, you were loved.