Dalene Bench Obituary (1939 - 2024)

Sydney Dalene Moon Bench 1939-2024 Our hearts are broken at the passing of our mother Sydney Dalene Moon Bench, yet we rejoice at the glorious reunion she is having with our father and her beloved husband, Varnell A. Bench. Dalene was born on Oct. 3, 1939, in Malad Idaho, to Dale J. and Alta Jones Moon. Her childhood on the farm in Cherry Creek was filled with hours of hard work and play. Her mischievous stories still bring joy to those who knew her. After graduating from Malad High she attended Utah State University in Logan, Utah. It was there she met her future husband, Varnell Bench. They were married on May 15, 1959, in the Logan LDS Temple. They had four children, raising them in a home where they learned the value of family and hard work. She always had beautiful flower gardens in her yards, was a great cook, and filled our home with music. She was totally dedicated to her children in all aspects of their lives. Her life with Varnell was filled with adventures. They loved to travel and would come back with all kinds of fun stories and mementos she displayed throughout her home. They traveled to dozens of countries and went on 44 cruises. They lived in Mogadishu, Somalia in Africa with three of their children while Varnell worked to help establish an agricultural school. She made dear friends with the other members of the team, as well as with the Somali people. She hosted many people from around the world when Varnell started the International Academic Olympiad at USU. She was awarded the International Friend of the Year award for her efforts to help them feel welcomed and comfortable in the United States as well as in her home. She kept in touch with some of these friends, including Koichi, from Japan, who still calls her "mother." Dalene and Varnell had many vacations they planned with family. This evolved into the annual cruises. They were delighted to include everyone on their cruise adventures, paying for each person so nobody was ever left out. They had no idea how this would explode as the family continued to grow. These cruises had a lasting impact on all of us as they allowed family members to create lifelong memories and bonds, especially among the cousins. The highlight was always the evening dinner, where everyone would gather and enjoy the meal and the "Showtime". After Varnell's passing, Dalene generously continued this practice. The last cruise included 40 family members setting sail to the Caribbean Islands. Family was the center of everything Dalene did. She took great pride in supporting them in their schooling efforts, missionary work, and extracurricular activities. Varnell and Dalene's advocacy for education led to almost a dozen college graduates, several with advanced degrees, and more who are currently attending college. Varnell and Dalene had a daily lunch date and generously invited any and all who wanted to join them. Their generosity included opening their home to their kids and grandkids, allowing family members to live with them at different times and giving to family if they were ever in need. She and Varnell hosted a Christmas dinner every Christmas, which she continued after his passing. We knew that was where we'd all gather in the afternoon of Christmas day. Dalene delighted in watching her children, grandchildren, and great-grandkids open the gifts she had carefully chosen for each individual. She lived a life of gratitude, always so grateful for anything anybody did for her, no matter how big or small. She was always telling everyone that she had a good life. Dalene valiantly fought cancer throughout the years, conquering two battles with breast cancer. Unfortunately, she was not able to win her fight with liver cancer, which took her life on June 7, 2024. She was frustrated that her body was weakening, but she was grateful to not be in pain during most of the illness. She is loved by her four children, Danell (Jim) Mieure, Danette (Doug) Bench, Ben (April) Bench, and Jerry (Rikki) Bench, 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Her siblings all survive her, Connie Kelso, Sharon (Terry) Williams, Brent (Alicia) Moon, and Cindy Moon. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Varnell A. Bench, her parents, Dale and Alta Moon, and her mother-in-law Ilah A. Nebeker. A viewing will be held on June 13 from 6:00-8:00 at Myers Mortuary, 845 Washington Blvd, Ogden Utah. The funeral will be on June 14 at 1:00 pm, with a viewing from 12:00-12:45 pm at Myers Mortuary. Following the funeral service, the burial will be in Logan, Utah. A recording of the service is available at the link below. Mom, you will be missed more than you'll ever know.