Bertha "Bertie" Mae Benham

Bertie Benham, 79, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on December 9, 2013, after suffering a heart attack at her home. Cremation has taken place.
Bertie was born in Bunker Hill, IL, May 23, 1934, the second child of Charles and Helen Howald. She attended school in Bunker Hill, and upon graduating high school, headed west to Boulder, CO, where she attended CU for a year. On a visit to Grand Teton National Park, she caught the eye of one of the park rangers, Marty Benham, and after a nine month courtship, became his wife. Marty's career as a National Park ranger took them to many of the most beautiful places on earth. Her first son, Blake was born in Yellowstone National Park, where Bertie was afforded a small "ice box" in their tiny cabin so she could keep formula for her baby boy. Her second son, Jeff, was born in Enumclaw, WA and her family of four lived in the National Parks of Washington's Mount Rainier, the Florida Everglades, and Idaho's Craters of the Moon. The family finally settled in Idaho Falls, ID. Upon Marty's retirement, they moved to Fort Collins, CO in 1984 where they enjoyed many activities related to CSU, especially their friends at CSU's senior fitness classes. Their summers were spent in Jackson, WY at their summer cabin.
While her adventures led her to many places, her heart was captured by the Teton Valley and Jackson Hole, WY. The family built a cabin on 10 acres with a view of the Tetons that was awe-inspiring. Summers were spent entertaining a steady stream of friends and family. When you vacationed at "the cabin" you were treated to coffee from the percolator, and dinner cooked fireside at the fire pit. After dinner, time was spent around the fire, listening to stories of the valley, of family gatherings, watching the stars fill the sky to the sound of Lake Creek and the coyotes howling in the distance. Moose, elk, deer, beaver, and the cattle of the Snake River Ranch were frequent visitors, as were hot air balloons that would drift by overhead and occasionally land on the cabin property. This was where Bertie was, and always will be, remembered as being happy and content. All was well with the world at the cabin.
Bertie is survived by sons Blake and Jeff (Bonnie) of Fort Collins, her two favorite grandchildren, Andy and Zoey of Fort Collins; her brother Sherwood "Chubby" Howald and wife Judy, sister Betty Zarges, brother Bob and his wife Carol, all of Bunker Hill, IL. She also leaves behind her beloved nieces and nephews: Mike (Roxanne) and Mark Howald; Billy (Stacy) and Bobby (Michelle) Zarges and Beth (Frank) Speziale; Gena, Tena and Dax (Ginger) Howald; and numerous cousins. To Bertie, her family was her prized and most precious possession. Her husband Marty, brother-in-law Bill Zarges and her parents preceded her in death.

Open House is scheduled for Sunday, December 22, 2013 from 1:00 - 4:00 PM at 1523 Peterson Street, Fort Collins, Colorado.