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Donald Ray Benson

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Donald Ray Benson

Birth
Iola, Allen County, Kansas, USA
Death
6 May 2018 (aged 75)
Maynard, Randolph County, Arkansas, USA
Burial
Jonesboro, Craighead County, Arkansas, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Donald Ray Benson, 75, of Maynard, passed away Sunday, May 6, 2018, at his residence.

Born in Iola, Kansas, Donald lived many years in Jonesboro before moving to Maynard in 2005. Early in his professional career, Donald worked for Rainbow Bakery in Emporia and Wichita, Kansas. He has been a Sonic Restaurant owner for more than 40 years and operated several Sonic Restaurants in Arkansas and Missouri. He served many years on the Sonic Franchisee Advisory Council and was a Christian.

Donald also operated a cattle ranch in Maynard and enjoyed traveling and spending time with his family. He was preceded in death by his father, Donald P. Benson, a son, Douglas Lee Benson and his brother, Randy Benson.

Survivors include his wife, Lila Benson of the home;
his mother, Wilma Benson Fields of Maynard;
1 son and daughter-in-law: Dallas and Kelly Benson of Jonesboro;
2 daughters and sons-in-law: Karen and Brad Erney, and Laura and Lance Smith, all of Jonesboro;
1 sister, Sharon Parkman of Emporia, Kansas;
4 grandchildren: Kyle and Jennifer Priest of Little Rock, and William Davidson, Troy Davidson and Whitlee Smith, all of Jonesboro; and
3 great grandchildren: Silas, Lillian and Elijah Priest, all of Little Rock.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at Emerson Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday in Emerson Memorial Chapel with John Sawyer, Jr. and Wayne Heidelberg officiating. Burial will follow in Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery.

Active pallbearers include William Davidson, Troy Davidson, Kyle Priest, Lance Smith, Brad Erney and Drew Benson. Honorary pallbearers include members of the Sonic Family.
Donald Ray Benson, 75, of Maynard, passed away Sunday, May 6, 2018, at his residence.

Born in Iola, Kansas, Donald lived many years in Jonesboro before moving to Maynard in 2005. Early in his professional career, Donald worked for Rainbow Bakery in Emporia and Wichita, Kansas. He has been a Sonic Restaurant owner for more than 40 years and operated several Sonic Restaurants in Arkansas and Missouri. He served many years on the Sonic Franchisee Advisory Council and was a Christian.

Donald also operated a cattle ranch in Maynard and enjoyed traveling and spending time with his family. He was preceded in death by his father, Donald P. Benson, a son, Douglas Lee Benson and his brother, Randy Benson.

Survivors include his wife, Lila Benson of the home;
his mother, Wilma Benson Fields of Maynard;
1 son and daughter-in-law: Dallas and Kelly Benson of Jonesboro;
2 daughters and sons-in-law: Karen and Brad Erney, and Laura and Lance Smith, all of Jonesboro;
1 sister, Sharon Parkman of Emporia, Kansas;
4 grandchildren: Kyle and Jennifer Priest of Little Rock, and William Davidson, Troy Davidson and Whitlee Smith, all of Jonesboro; and
3 great grandchildren: Silas, Lillian and Elijah Priest, all of Little Rock.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at Emerson Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday in Emerson Memorial Chapel with John Sawyer, Jr. and Wayne Heidelberg officiating. Burial will follow in Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery.

Active pallbearers include William Davidson, Troy Davidson, Kyle Priest, Lance Smith, Brad Erney and Drew Benson. Honorary pallbearers include members of the Sonic Family.


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  • Created by: JKHCCD
  • Added: May 8, 2018
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/189552475/donald_ray-benson: accessed ), memorial page for Donald Ray Benson (1 Nov 1942–6 May 2018), Find a Grave Memorial ID 189552475, citing Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery, Jonesboro, Craighead County, Arkansas, USA; Maintained by JKHCCD (contributor 47565933).