Mel Benson Memorial

MEL

YOU CAN NO LONGER SEE THE MAN TO SEE IN JOSHUA TREE. MEL BENSON DIED SATURDAY JULY 27, 2002 JUST BEFORE NOON AFTER A LONG ILLNESS. A MINNESOTA NATIVE, HE CAME TO JOSHUA TREE IN 1957.

HE WAS ONE OF THE GROUP THAT MADE COPPER MOUNTAIN COLLEGE POSSIBLE, IN GETTING GRANTS, IN LEADING THE EFFORT TO RAISE FUNDS. HE REMAINED ACTIVE THE FRIENDS OF THE COLLEGE AND THE COLLEGE FOUNDATION. HE WAS ALSO ONE OF THE LEADERS IN RAISING FUNDS TO BUILD THE HI DESERT MEDICAL CENTER - THE ORIGINAL ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL AND THE CONTINUING CARE CENTER. HE REMAINED ACTIVE IN THE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION. HE HELPED START THE JOSHUA TREE KIDS CLUB.

MEL WAS GENEROUS TO THE UNITY HOME, THE HI DESERT PLAYHOUSE AND A NUMBER OF AREA CHURCHES. HE WAS A MEMBER OF GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH.

MEL WAS A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF JOSHUA TREE AND A PAST ROTARY DISTRICT GOVERNOR (AND A PAUL HARRIS FELLOW). HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE SPORTSMANS CLUB.

HE COULD BE COUNTED ON THE HELP THE COMMUNITY IN EVERY WAY HE COULD, INCLUDING SUCH THINGS AS THE JOSHUA TREE COMMUNITY SIGNS. WHENEVER THERE WAS A NEED, HE GAVE. HE'D THEN CALL ON HIS FRIENDS TO MATCH HIS GIFTS IF THEY COULD.

HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, ROSEMARIE, FIVE CHILDREN AND TWELVE GRANDCHILDREN.