Obituary: Bennett, Irene Ruth
Age 88
Irene Ruth Bennett was born in Reardan, Washington, on March 15, 1928.
She was the eighth of nine children born to Henry and Anna Mann and grew up on a wheat farm north of Reardan.
She graduated from high school in 1946 and enrolled at Eastern Washington College of Education in Cheney, Washington, where she met Bill Bennett, whom she married in 1947.
After graduation, Irene taught for one year in Brewster, Washington, before returning to Spokane to teach at Hutton Elementary School.
The family moved in 1962 to Salem, where Bill and Irene raised their family.
In 2000 they moved to Ritzville, Washington, to be close to their daughter Rena and her family.
Surrounded by family, she died of natural causes in the home of her son Byrne, on March, 26, 2016, at age 88.
Irene was preceded in death by her husband Bernard (Bill) Bennett, to whom she was married 63 years; and daughter Marla Bennett, who shared her birthday and passed away just 13 days earlier.
She is survived by her sister Helen Halverson of Seattle, WA; daughters, Rena (Dale) Brown and Janna Bennett of Ritzville, WA; and sons, Byrne (Denise) Bennett of Medical Lake, WA, and Linh (Tami) Bennett of East Wenatchee, WA.
She is also survived by granddaughters JuliAnne Brimmer, Darcy Brown, Amy McCaddon and Lindy Brown Swanger; and grandsons Laif McCaddon and Micah Brown.
Irene was a woman of grace and dignity.
She loved her Lord Jesus and shared her faith with her family and friends.
A lifelong artist, Irene loved to sketch, draw, sculpt, and paint.
She enjoyed traveling and treasured each of her eight visits to The Netherlands, where she, along with Dutch citizens, honored her brother, Medal of Honor recipient Joe E. Mann.
A celebration of her life will be held at 1:00 PM on April 15, 2016, at Ritzville Church of the Nazarene, 108 W. 4th Ave.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Spokane and Gideon’s International.