Donald Benson

Donald Clarence Benson May 8, 1926 - August 26, 2020 Don Benson, 94, passed away at his home in Canby, OR on August 26th at 8:23pm with his loving wife Helen by his side. Don was born in Dallas, OR on May 8th 1926. At age 17 he left school to join the Navy where he served on the U.S.S. Concord C.L.10 referred to as “the tin can”. It was here that he became known as “Shanghai”. He also served on the U.S.S. Cullman APA78 till the end of the war where he stood on deck and watched the signing of the Japanese surrender that ended WWII. Shortly after arriving home from the war Don was reunited with Helen (a friend from his childhood) at his grandparents Golden Wedding Anniversary. The two soon became inseparable and Don would ask Helen to become his wife. They were married on February 14th 1949. One of Don’s first jobs after marrying Helen was hauling logs for her father. Don later became a police officer serving on the Salem and Eugene police departments. Don left the police force and purchased a Richfield Service Station in Salem, OR. In December of 1959 Don and Helen purchased a farm in Aurora, OR where they worked together to build the Western Wagon Village mobile home park and later started a tax accounting business.Don received an accounting degree from Merritt Davis Business College in the late 1950’s. Don is survived by his brother Tom Benson, sister Mary Hanson, son Larry Benson, daughter Renee’ Wolfe, 6 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren.