FAMILY FUN – Crystal Johns holds her son Zayne , 2, as she follows her son Ezekiel, 4, up an inflatable slide Saturday at Xoots Elementary School during the annual Spring Carnival. The event included games, prizes, cotton candy, and karaoke. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
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Sentinel Staff Writer
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Sentinel Staff Writer
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Alaska Beacon
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Mr. Whitekeys
In Sitka to Tell
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Sitka Historical Society and Museum will present ‘‘Th [ ... ]
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
April 17
At 9:08 a.m. a transformer was r [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
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By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
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By Sentinel Staff
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Sentinel Sports Editor
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Alaska Beacon
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Alaska’s Kobuk River, which flows out of the Brooks Range above [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
April 16
At 8:07 a.m. a woman [ ... ]
Presentation On
Medicare, SS
SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium and Cynthia Gibson, CFP®, an [ ... ]
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Sentinel Staff Writer
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Sentinel Staff Writer
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Sentinel Sports Editor
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Alaska Beacon
Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee expanded a [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS and
CLAIRE STREMPLE
The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development is [ ... ]
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
April 15
A protective order was issued at 1 [ ... ]
Chamber Speaker
Event Wednesday
The Chamber of Commerce speaker series will continue noon Wednesday at [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
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Sentinel Staff Writer
A number of participants at Thursday’s community me [ ... ]
Daily Sitka Sentinel
Chuck Benson, Former Sitkan, Dies at Age 64
Chuck Benson
Ernest Charles “Chuck” Benson, of Eagle River, suffered a sudden heart attack and died Feb. 7, 2020, at the Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage, with family at his side. He was 64.
Chuck was born October 11, 1955, at Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital. He was Raven, T´akdeintaan, from the Tax’ Hít (Snail House).
His family describes Chuck as the “rock” of the family; a loving and fiercely devoted father to his five children; Kiatcha Palmer (Eagle River), Ryan Benson (Nome), Charles Benson (Eagle River), Kahtayaa “Katie” Benson (Anchorage) and Mara Patterson (Haines), and his seven grandchildren; Damien Derry, Natalia Benson, Ellis Benson, Raven Pangawyi, and Kyran, Nathan and Isabelle Sweet. He took great pride in organizing holiday and other family gatherings; cooking, and bringing everyone together. Throughout his life he was especially close to his sister, Diane Benson (Petersburg).
He worked in Valdez during the Trans-Alaska Pipeline construction as an electrician, fulfilled his duties as a medical lab technician in the National Guard, and retired after more than 30 years of service from the Federation Aviation Administration (FAA) as a highly skilled radar and air traffic control electronics technician. He served FAA in Cold Bay and then Cordova – at the time of the Exxon-Valdez oil spill – before settling in Eagle River where he ultimately raised his children.
He thoroughly enjoyed books and was a voracious reader of history, science and current affairs, and also enjoyed running, hiking, chess, fishing, and traveling. He fulfilled a lifelong dream with two trips to Europe.
Chuck was preceded in death by his father Ernest H. Benson and his mother Eleanor (Williams/Dick) Thomas; uncles Jim, Richard and Eugene Williams, and Clarence, Wilfred and George Dick; aunts Sylvia Carlsson and Juanita Sanborn; and his nephew Peter Williams.
Chuck is survived by his sister Diane, and brothers Dennis Benson, Dale Williams (Sitka), Clifford Thomas (California) and Jeffrey Thomas (Nevada), and aunt Marta Ryman of Sitka.
He also is survived by nieces and nephews Latseen Benson, Anouk and Ian Benson, Eric Thomas, Paul and Lucas Williams; many cousins, including Marta Coleman, Chastity Dovell, and Karen Dick; and many other extended family members.
A memorial is being planned for June during Summer Solstice, in Anchorage.
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20 YEARS AGO
April 2004
Photo caption: Sen. Lisa Murkowski talks with students in Karoline Bekeris’ fourth-grade class Thursday at the Westmark Shee Atika. From left are Murkowski, Kelsey Boussom, Laura Quinn and Memito Diaz.
50 YEARS AGO
April 1974
A medley of songs from “Jesus Christ Superstar” will highlight the morning worship service on Palm Sunday at the United Methodist Church. Musicians will be Paige Garwood and Karl Hartman on guitars; Dan Goodness on organ; and Gayle Erickson on drums.