Rex Palmer Bennion was an extraordinary man!
His humor was unmatched and his love for Grandma B everlasting. Grandpa was known for his corny jokes. One of his favorites goes like this,
"Do you want to hear a good knock, knock joke?" He'd ask.
"Sure," one might reply.
"Okay then start it!"
The joke is on you because the one that starts a knock knock joke has to have the punch line. We loved his quick wit!
Grandma and Grandpa B were such wonderful example to us all. Their love story is a beautiful one! I love this last special moment they shared together on this mortal earth.
We feel we have experienced many tender mercies and priceless memories with Dad as he suffered with this illness. This past Wednesday, the night before Dad passed away, Mom was going home to get some rest. She told Dad she was leaving, but she would be back and if he needed to go and she wasn’t there, she would be ok. As she leaned over to kiss him goodbye, she asked him for a kiss. Dad puckered up and gave her a big kiss. Mom was so surprised because Dad had been unresponsive for two days. She asked him if he would give her another kiss and he puckered up again and kissed her. Christi who was standing near by said, “Well if you are passing out kisses Dad, I want one,” but when she kissed him, he didn’t kiss her back. Dad knew who his eternal sweetheart was and this was his final gift to our mother. He passed away, peacefully Thursday, July 9th at 10:30 in the morning, with his four children, my mother and a grandson Rick by his side. Ironically, this was the same day, his brother Morris died eight years ago, and given the close relationship the two of them had we’ve wondered if Uncle Morrie came to take him home.
I love this picture!
I love that Grandpa B got his wish of being carried across the street from the church to his final resting place. I love that Gary has his arms around Grandma B, just like I am sure Grandpa B would have wanted.
Justin and Spencer got to be pallbearers along with several other grandsons.The services were beautiful and the TAPS at the graveside were really impressive! The big tear jerker was the folding of the flag!
We know that the veil is thin between this life and the next and then story is proof of that.
Annalisa, a CNA at Magnolia House, the Assisted Living facility where Dad was living talked to the family about an incident that she had with Dad the week before he died. He was out in the dining room at the Magnolia House and pointed to the corner of the room where a plant was. Dad asked Annalisa if she could see the two people in the corner standing by the plant. He said it was Phebe and Mary. Dad didn’t tell Annalisa that he knew these women or that he was related to them. He just called them by their names. Dad said that Mary and Phebe wanted him to go with them, but they were worried about how Colleen, and what she would do if he should leave and go with them. He pointed the plant again, and asked Annalisa if she saw Phebe and Mary. Annalisa responded, “Yes, they are your family.” Dad wanted Annalisa to wave to them; to be sure that she really saw these two women, so Annalisa went along with Dad’s story and waved to Mary and Phebe.
The next day when Mom was visiting Dad at Magnolia House, Annalisa asked Mom if she knew who Phebe and Mary were. Mom told her that Phebe was Dad’s mother’s name, but that she went by Effie, her middle name, but her given name was Phebe Effie. Mary, was the name of Dad’s grandmother on his Dad’s side of the family. When Annalisa heard this she said it gave her chills, because she realized that Dad really had seen his mother and grandmother that day. The following week Dad’s health declined quickly and he died the following Thursday. He died July 9th, the same day as his older brother Morris, to whom he was very close. We don’t know if it was his mother, grandmother or brother Morris who came to take Dad across the veil, but we know that there was family aware of his coming and they were there to greet him.
I tell you what when Grandma B was presented with this flag I don't think there was a dry eye in the crowd.
Even though we know Grandpa is in a pretty place and that he no longer has to suffer with Alzheimer's, it was still heart wrenching to see Grandma B loose him.
Melissa did a wonderful job playing the piano at the graveside!
We are so grateful to have been able to make the trip up to Utah for Grandpa's funeral. It was so sweet, as we sat in the chapel during the life story I happen to be sitting next to Hunter. At one point when they are talking about Grandma B I look over and see tears running down Hunter's face. I love that he felt of their love for one another and that he has such a tender heart!
Any time we can have Aunt Tif ride in the car with us it's a fun time! We sure love her!
One of Grandpa B's favorite treats was Frozen Twinkies. So they handed them out at the viewing as well as the luncheon that followed his funeral....They even had then frozen. Justin is so awesome and clever, he made up this jingle. He doesn't get his nickname, Jingling Justin for nothing.
I love this lady!
I love so many things about her. To me she is one of the best grandmas ever!
The Cluff crew that was able to make the trip to Utah. The services were exceptional today. Getting to see all the Utah and Idaho relatives always makes for a good time. They are a ton of fun and we wish we saw them more often!
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