Born: Friday Sep-25-1931
Died: Monday Feb-24-2020
Funeral: Saturday Feb-29-2020

Morrison Funeral Home
& Crematory
188 S. Hwy 24
Rupert, Idaho 83350
Contact and Directions

Leslie Edwin Bench, husband to Martha Mary Hale Bench and father to 13 children, died Monday, February 24 in Rupert Idaho. He was 88 years old.

Ed was born September 25, 1931 in Logan, Cache County, Utah, to Leslie and Caroline Clegg Bench. The family moved to Burley, Idaho when Ed was 5 years old.  He graduated from Burley High School in 1950. Ed and Martha married September 15, 1950 in the Idaho Falls Temple, in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Ed was ever the entrepreneur, working tirelessly alongside Martha, to provide necessities, opportunities, and life experiences for his large family. In his early years, he worked as a farm laborer, hauling hay and doing other farm work.  He later became a realtor specializing in farms and ranches, and had his own farm and cattle operation.  He was awarded top realtor for 8 years in a row.  He absolutely loved horses and was proud of the horses he raised and trained.  It was one of his favorite hobbies to see his horses excel.  He raised several horses that he later took to the Paint Horse World Championship in Fort Worth Texas.  His horses were awarded high honors, including 4^th place in the World in the “Working Cow” horse category.  

In addition to his horses, Ed’s other hobbies included fishing, hunting, reading, watching old western movies and TV shows, and riding with the Cassia County Mounted Sheriff’s Posse.  He also loved to fly airplanes and owned his own airplane for many years.  In the early 80’s, after starting a business venture in Utah, he was flying his plane home to Utah after a meeting in Montana, when he was in a near fatal airplane accident.  He broke many bones and was the only survivor of the accident.  It took Ed many years to recover physically from such an accident, but just like previous challenges in Ed’s life, he pushed forward and eventually was once again successful in Real Estate and the hay brokerage business.

Ed was a playful, happy, and energetic soul.  He was especially good at playing jokes on family members, water-fights, Christmas tricks, scaring Martha by jumping out from behind doors, and chasing his children around while pretending to be a huge tiger. He and Martha loved to laugh until it hurt at old TV shows like I Love Lucy, John Wayne movies, Red Skeleton, Bonanza, and Gunsmoke.  With modern technology, he and Martha were able to watch and re-watch many of their favorites.

As Ed got older, he developed a keen interest in Family History work and spent hours each day working on Name Extractions for the Family Search program. He was a top producer, extracting over 160,000 names.

Ed loved the gospel of Jesus Christ. He taught his children the attributes of a Christian by the way he lived his life and cared for those under his watch. He loved the hymns of the gospel and nothing brought him greater joy than listening to his children and their families sing those hymns.

Ed is survived by his devoted wife, Martha, 13 children: Charlyce Altom (Marvin), Kevin Bench (Claire) Leslie Crafton (Bryan) Dale Bench (Rhonda) Wayne Bench (Robin), Luci Mitton (Jeff) Jim Bench (Chrissy) Mary Setoki (Conrad), Craig Bench (Jennifer) Wendy Morrison (Kevin) Cory Bench (Jamie) Casey Bench (Heidi) and Clayton Bench (Nolene). Ed is also survived by 75 grandchildren and over 80 great grandchildren, his sisters Ruth Stimpson, Janis Koyle (Milton), and brother Ron Bench (Carol).

Ed didn’t graduate from a university, but he has now graduated from life, with honors, and a degree in Resiliency and Compassion. His legacy is to have passed on these characteristics to those he leaves behind.

A public viewing for friends and family will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the old High School Gym in Oakley Idaho on Friday Feb 28th.  Funeral services will be held Saturday Feb 29th at 9:30 a.m. at the Oakley Stake Center.  A private viewing for family will be held at the Oakley Stake Center from 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m prior to the funeral service.  Arrangements are under the direction of Morrison Funeral Home, 188 South Hwy 24 in Rupert.

Condolences for Ed Bench

From: Evelyn Larson Dayley
Sincere condolences to Martha and her families. Ed and Martha are some of my first remembered extended family members on the Larson side. I remember baby sitting the older kids at the little house on Hillcrest above E 16th street and being proud to say we were related as they performed all over the valley. Loved Ed and his fun sense of humor.
Sorry I will not be able to attend the services as I am with my family. Know I will be there in spirit. Thinking of you all with love.

From: Suzette baker 
I am sorry for your loss. Ed was an amazingly kind, sweet and funny man. We all loved him and He will be so missed. My thoughts and prayers to all of his family and such a Big hug for Martha

From: Lynne P Boren 
It must be very hard to say good-bye for now to ed, but he must be very happy to be able to do things again and be well and strong. I pray for god's loving kindness to be with you and your many family members. I remember you all with love.
God bless,
Lynne Boren

From: Al and connie and charlotte elison 
Wr are so sorry for your loss ! We love your dad and mom . Out kids called thwm Grandpa and grandma bench !! Our prayers and thoughts are with you all !!

From: Tammy Lorcher
I am so sorry for your loss. Uncle Ed was truly a great guy.

From: JAnet Thomson
From the minute you arrived, we knew that we would love you. You brought so much sunshine with you.  I remember the day that you sneezed and scared me so bad. I thought you were going to fall out of your chair laughing at me.
you are truly missed!

From: Leslie Peterson
i hAve such fond memories of Ed. He showered me with love and kindness Whenever i saw him. I have missed stopping to hold his hand and talk to him at ball games. I can imagine the loss you Are all feeling. II pray for peace and comfort to be with you all during this difficult time . I hope you know of the love this community has for Ed, martha and this family. I love ed. And the legacy he left behind.

From: Brent Hale 
i spent a great deal of time in the bench home as a young man and i witnessed the goodness of ed bench. he is a wonderful human who left a great legacy. sincerest condolences to each member of his family.

From: Julie Even 
So sorry for your losS. I enjoyed knowing your husBand/father when i was growing up in Oakley. I have many fond memories of those days.

From: Allie Jo Decker
We were so sorry to hear of ed's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. AJ & con, & edna poe

From: Kim Bench drury 
uNCLE ED I WILL MISS YOU DEARLY, EVEN THOUGH I WON'T BE ABLE TO COME TO YOUR MEMORIAL SERVICE, I AM THINKING OF YOU AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL LOVING FAMILY DURING THIS TIME OF SORROW. THINKING BACK IT ALWAYS AMAZED ME HOW YOU WERE ABLE TO TIRELESSLY PROVIDE FOR ALL OF YOUR MANY CHILDREN, NOT ONLY THROUGH YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT, BUT SPIRITUALLY AS WELL. YOU TRULY WERE A ONE OF A KIND. THE LOVE YOU AND AUNT MARTHA SHARED AS WELL WAS A TRUE INSPIRATION TO US ALL AND i CAN ONLY HOPE THAT WHEN MY TIME ON THIS EARTH IS DONE THAT i WILL HAVE BEEN AS INSPIRING TO OTHERS THAT YOU WERE. SAY HELLO TO MY DAD FOR ME AS i'M SURE YOU HAD A NICE FAMILY REUNION IN HEAVEN THE NIGHT YOU LEFT US BEHIND FOR YOUR NEW ADVENTURE. UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN MY DEAR UNCLE.

From: Ned and vicki Bench
So sorry FOR your loss. We are thinking of all of you. Sending our love and our prayers.

From: Roger Ho 
Ed is a grea man. The yesrs i owned Farmers Corner, Ed stoPped nearly EVERYDAY. We had grate visitS. Those were great years.
We ATTENDED CHURCH together, until we moved.
There are no better peopl than Ed and Maerha Bench. Out ptsyers sre with you.

From: Joe and Linda Petersen
From that chance meeting when we saw a 4C car in a driveway in virginia, we have loved and admired you both. It was wonderful to get to know Brandi as she joined us in “ young womans”. You have taught us much these years with you sunshine disposition and dedicated love for Bill and Brandi.