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.
