Jim Benson, 85

Jim Allen Benson passed away at his home in Moscow, Idaho, surrounded by his children and grandchildren June 10.

Jim was born Sept. 26, 1940, in Ethridge, Tenn. He spent his childhood on the farm picking cotton, growing tobacco and driving the tractor from age 6. For fun, he and his crew hunted squirrels, fished from a boat they fashioned out of sheet metal and tar and rehabbed old cars. 

After high school, he went to the University of Tennessee where he earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education and a master’s degree in agronomy. During his time in Knoxville, Jim learned to play the guitar, grew his collection of lifelong friends, met and married his love, Betty, and welcomed their first son, Tim.

Jim had fallen in love with the Pacific Northwest in college working on a fire tower for the U.S. Forest Service in Oregon. In 1967, the family moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, where Jim managed an agricultural experiment station that developed crops especially suited for North Idaho. Jim and Betty bought property on Baldy Mountain and built their home. It was a labor of love as Jim spent his evenings and weekends flooring, framing and roofing. Jim and Betty eventually added a second story, along with two more children: James and Krisila. Jim and Betty like to play volleyball and pinochle, and Jim enjoyed hunting and fishing.

In 1983, the family moved to Moscow when Jim took a job with Cenex as an agronomy sales specialist. Jim and Betty again built their house from scratch. In retirement, Jim started a second career as a crop insurance adjuster to continue to get out in the fields and spend time with farmers.

Although Jim lived with leukemia (CLL) for 26 years, he was fueled by time well spent: picking and grinning on the guitar, tending his land, growing top-notch corn and peaches, baking cookies, following the Mariners and Gonzaga basketball, and sharing meals with family, neighbors and friends. 

Jim is survived by his children, Tim, James (Susie) and Krisila Benson; granddaughters, Megan and Jenna; siblings, Diane Brewer and Howard (Ginny) Benson; extended family, neighbors and friends. Jim was predeceased by his beloved wife, Betty; siblings Peggy Benson and Jon Ed Benson; brother-in-law Ken Brewer; and parents Allen Bennett Benson and Roxie Bailey Benson.

A joint celebration of life will be held for Jim and Betty in late summer or fall.

To view the full life story and leave condolences, please visit Short’s Funeral Chapel at shortsfuneralchapel.com.