Wilbur John Bennington

Wilbur BenningtonWilbur John Bennington, 85, of Billings, passed away on Friday, Aug. 4, 2011 due to complications of Alzheimer’s disease. His family was by his side.

He was born on December 12, 1925 in Miles City, the youngest of five children of Lewis and Erma Bennington.

Benny, as he was known to friends and family, married his high school sweetheart, Vonnie Anderson on August 26, 1945. They would have celebrated their 66th anniversary this month.

A lifelong Montana native, Benny graduated with a degree in architectural engineering from then Montana State College in Bozeman after having served in the U.S. Navy. After earning his degree, he began a 30 year career as the structural engineer for CTA Architects Engineers in Billings, where he served in various posts including chairman and executive director. In 2010, he was honored with induction into the Montana Professional Engineers Hall of Fame for significant structural engineering work on prominent public buildings in Montana including airports, universities, hospitals and schools.

Benny is survived by his wife Vonnie and their children, Kenneth (Jeannie) of Denver, Colo. and Jean (Steven) of St. Paul, Minn, and three grandchildren, Derek of Denver, Colo., Sarah (Rusty) of Myrtle Beach, S. Carolina, and Callan of Austin, Texas. Benny was preceded in death by his son, Gerald.

A celebration of Benny’s life will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2011, at 12 p.m. at the family home in Red Lodge, 56 Bannock Trail, Tipi Village. Friends and family are welcome to join in the celebration and lunch.

Memorials may be made to the Wilbur J. Bennington Endowment for Women in the Engineering, College of Engineering, Montana State University Foundation, Bozeman, Montana.