Reed W. Bennett

Reed was born on September 1, 1929, in Ogden, Utah to Phillip John Bennett and Maude Walker Bennett. He was their third child and oldest son, followed by 2 younger siblings.

He was raised on the family farm in the small farming community of Syracuse, Utah with many relatives nearby. He learned the value of hard work early in life as he helped with the chickens, milking the cows, and hoeing corn and sugar beets.

He was blessed with a love for music and a beautiful tenor voice, which he shared often. He enjoyed playing basketball and baseball, hunting, camping, and just being outdoors.

He graduated from Davis High School in 1947, where he lettered in baseball, basketball, music, and drama. He then attended Utah State University, and later completed a bachelor’s degree in business and an MBA at the University of Utah.

He was called to serve the Lord in the Northeastern States Mission from 1949 to 1951, where he met Viola M. Lehman who was also serving in that mission. After each had returned home, a romance was kindled, and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple on March 19, 1953. This union was blessed with six children, to whom Reed passed on his extraordinary work ethic as he always kept and worked farmland, aside from his full-time job. Reed was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served in YMMIA, boy scouts, Sunday School, as choir director, as Ward Clerk, and other Priesthood callings through the years.

Reed served his country for 4 years in the US Air Force after working for a time as a civilian at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. He learned the Russian language at the Army Language School in Monterey, California. He served in Texas and Germany, in a position with Intelligence during the Korean War. He followed this with 4 years in the Air Force Reserve from 1957 to 1961. Following his active duty, he was employed in positions with Collins Radio in Iowa, Hercules Powder Company in Salt Lake City, and the Internal Revenue Service in Ogden and Fresno. During his 20+ years with IRS, he held positions as branch chief and division chief. He also served a term as president of the Ogden Chapter 67 of the National Association of Internal Revenue Employees and on the board of directors of the Federal Employees Credit Union.

In 1964, Reed was chosen by the National Institute of Public Affairs for a career education award to do post graduate work at the University of Chicago for one year. While there, he was blessed to study under Dallin H. Oaks.

In 1971, Reed moved his family to Fresno, California where he had accepted a position as chief of the examination division at the new IRS Fresno Service Center. He was well-respected by both his peers and subordinates. In Fresno, he took an interest in growing grapes and the family learned to do vineyard work.

Reed and Viola made memories with their children as they traveled around Europe; to Washington DC, Niagara Falls, New York City, and LDS Church historic sites; the San Antonio 1968 HemisFair (including the Grand Canyon, Mexico, and Four Corners); and Disneyland; and of course, there were the hours spent hauling hay, cutting up seed potatoes then harvesting the crop, harvesting and selling sweet corn, and working the vineyard to make raisins.

Reed and Viola divorced in 1980. He then retired from IRS, moved to San Diego, and married Dolores Steiner. They divorced in 1989. The family was blessed when he met and married Jean Murphy on February 14, 2002, then moved to Oceanside, California. They spent 21 wonderful years together. Reed and Jean were sealed in the San Diego Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 12, 2003. They served together as senior missionaries in the California Carlsbad Mission Office, and as Temple Workers at the San Diego Temple. He served a total of 18 years in the San Diego Temple. He and Jean enjoyed several cruises including Vancouver, Hawaii, and Bahamas.

Reed was employed by San Diego County as Administrative Analyst in the Public Works Department for many years and retired in 1998. He enjoyed bowling, tennis, and golf during his retirement years. He loved his family and would go all out whenever they visited him in Southern California, taking them to the theme parks, the beach, and other attractions.

He faced his recent health challenges with unwavering faith, courage, and hope while trusting in the Lord and willingly accepting His plan for him. His life had not been free from life’s trials, but he recognized that these trials give us experience that purifies, refines, and prepares us for the next step in our eternal progression.

We have been abundantly blessed by Reed’s legacy—his example of faithfulness to the Lord, love for family, and of course hard work. We look forward to the day when we will once again be encircled in his warm embrace as he welcomes us home.

Reed is survived by his wife, Jean; children Bethany (Clarence) Newman; Kelly (Brenda) Bennett; Laurie Culbertson; Tamara (Bruce) Snow; Fredric (Tricia) Bennett; Perry (Debbie) Bennett; Paula (Randall) Malan; Bill (Laura) Arthur; Janine (Chris) Arthur-Kingston, and David Arthur. 43 grandchildren; 93 great-grandchildren; and 16 great-great-grandchildren. Numerous nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly. He was preceded to Heaven by his parents; siblings LaFay (Vic) Atkinson; Beverly (LaGrande) Belnap; Nadine Adams; and Sherman (Susan) Bennett.

Funeral services will be held on December 1, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. at the Rancho Guajome Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 451 W Bobier Driver, Vista, CA 92083. Friends may visit with family at Eternal Hills Mortuary, 1999 El Camino Real, Oceanside, CA 92054 on November 30, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and at the Church from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will be in Eternal Hills Memorial Park in Oceanside, California.

Reed’s family would like to thank the staff and caregivers at Alta Vista Manor (especially Andre) and Hospice of the North Coast for their compassionate care of Reed these past few weeks.