Kenneth Benner Evans
- GIVN: Kenneth Benner
- SURN: Evans
- Sex: M
- Born: 23 Nov 1923 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States
- Died: 6 Jun 2012 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States
- AFN: DBSD-Q1
- _UID: D3C290AC88A048EDB67B1FE5BFA65D7196E8
- Record last updated: 22 Oct 2014
- TIME: 11:08
- Notes:
«b»Kenneth Benner Evans
Obituary | «u»Condolences «/u»
«/b»Kenneth Benner Evans, 88, left his worldly home on June 6, 2012, and joined his sweetheart and best friend, Georgene Cahoon Evans, to begin a new adventure together. He was born in Salt Lake City on November 23, 1923, to Seth Bartlett and Myrtle Butler Evans, and spent his first four years in a log cabin in Centerville with running water-in an outside stream-and no heat, after which they moved to Salt Lake where he attended school and graduated from Granite High. As he grew, he learned to work hard and developed the ability to create or fix just about anything. His two prized possessions were his tennis racket and skis. While on the slopes of Alta, he heard the fateful news of Pearl Harbor, and soon after found himself in England serving in the Air Force. Upon his return, he fell in love with and married his childhood friend and tennis pal Georgene and started his family. They were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. He "tried on" many different jobs before finding his perfect fit in selling real estate. He eventually had his own brokerage and was very successful. He was a self taught craftsman, building their first home in East Millcreek with his own two hands while working full time and raising a family. He would always forego a Coke because the money could buy one more brick. They later had homes in Mount Olympus Cove, Holladay, and each winter flew south to their place in St. George.
He was a self-made man, teller of jokes, an MC at many parties, and had a sharp sense of humor. He was a "neatnick" who left everything better and cleaner than he found it, was a builder and creator, and a mentor to many missionaries. He also believed strongly in the value of leadership and community service, acting as president of the Sherman Elementary PTA, the Kiwanis club, and the Utah State Board of Realtors. He also taught real estate courses throughout his career. He spent many years building kayaks in his garage with different groups of scouts, taking them on adventures in the Uintas, kayaking Yellowstone Lake, and bicycling through the Tetons. He helped to shape and influence the lives of many young men through his service. He designed and built his first RV out of an old delivery truck, painted it green and called it "The Jolly Green Giant," and ambled along many a highway with George and the kids. He loved exploring the many canyons of Lake Powell, listening to his collection of big band and jazz tapes as he camped under the stars in his boat. But his most cherished destination was Yellowstone, the Tetons, and Colter Bay with his family. He and George visited nearly every year since 1948, canoeing the area's many lakes and collecting scores of friends over the years.
He and George experienced 48 states and 45 countries, saw the pyramids in the moonlight, sailed over Australia's Great Barrier Reef, saw the treasures of the czars in St. Petersburg Russia, snorkeled in the Virgin Islands, slept in a tent listening to the lions roar in Kenya, walked through Hindu temples in India, ate a Big Mac in Singapore, cruised the Nile, kayaked around icebergs in Alaska, walked through the ruins of Athens, cruised through the seas of Scandinavia, explored the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu and scaled Mt. Vesuvius at the age of 82. They created endless memories experiencing the world, but we suspect the "best trip Ken ever took" is the one he is on right now.
He was a committed member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, cheerfully serving many callings, one of which was an LDS mission with Georgene in Sri Lanka and India. However, being the patriarch to his family was the calling he enjoyed most and found most important. His faith in Christ helped him truly endure to the end. After losing Georgene to cancer in 2007, then losing his leg and moving from his home, he valiantly adapted. He faced every challenge with determination, optimism, and a healthy dose of humor.
He was the last leaf on his parents' family tree and was preceded in death by them and his siblings Dahyle Evans, Elden Evans, and Maurine Hull. His living legacy: Dennis (Tracy), Randy, Leslie (Lorren) Robison, Claudia (Craig) Kaelin, and Tricia (Mike) Ely, 21 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren whom he loved.
His life will be celebrated during a memorial service on Wednesday, June 20, at noon in the Cottonwood Stake Center, 1830 East 6400 South. Friends and family may visit between 10:00-12:00.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the LDS Church Perpetual Education Fund.
- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/deseretnews/obituary.aspx?pid=158055399#sthash.wkN8yMxG.dpuf
Father: Seth Bartlett Evans, b. 17 Sep 1877 in Centerville, Davis, Utah, United States
Mother: Myrtle Vivian Butler, b. 22 Nov 1894 in American Fork, Utah, Utah, United States
Family 1: Claire "Georgene" Cahoon, b. 2 Apr 1923 in Gannett, Blaine, Idaho, United States
- Dennis Dale Evans
- Randall Kent Evans
- Leslie Jeanne Evans
- Claudia Anne Evans
- Patricia Louise Evans
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