Clifford Bennett
Clifford Earl Bennett was born in Haxtun on May 28, 1927, the third child of Ray and Cyntha (Woodhams) Bennett. He died Dec. 27, 2020, at Melissa Memorial Hospital in Holyoke at the age of 93.
Clifford grew up along with his two brothers and two sisters on several different farms south of Ovid. Clifford attended several area county schools, including District No. 83, and finally graduated from the eighth grade at District No. 3. His education ended after this graduation, as he was needed on the farm helping his father support the family. These were the years following the Great Depression, so times were hard and money was scarce.
Cliff’s first paying job was when he was 7 years old — he played his guitar and sang for a couple of political candidates, earning a silver dollar for each performance. In his teen years he continued to pursue his interest in music, playing with a dance band. He worked for Sapp Brothers Manufacturing Company in Julesburg as well as working on the farms of many friends and neighbors.
On July 7, 1951, Clifford was married to Mary Louise Scott, and they made their first home on Uncle Claude Bennett’s farm south of Ovid. They had two daughters, Jennifer Jo and Beverly Jane.
Clifford worked for Great Western Sugar Company as an electrician’s helper and through many campaigns, but his true passion was farming. In the early 1960s, he fulfilled this passion by renting some irrigated land north of Ovid to begin farming.
In 1963 his passion for farming led Clifford to move his family to the Burt Randall farm southeast of Holyoke, where he became one of the first farmers to grow sugar beets in Phillips County. Clifford relocated the family once again in 1967 to the Clifford Webermeier farm east of Holyoke, where he farmed for many years until his retirement in 1993.
Clifford was a proud farmer and took great pride in his farming. Clifford won numerous awards over the years as a top sugar producer. He served on the Amherst Co-op board of directors for 12 years. He enjoyed the combination of family time and community service acting as a 4-H leader for a number of years. He thoroughly enjoyed the time spent with his daughters and their horses as they participated in drill teams, parades and fairs.
Clifford and Mary enjoyed watching the light of their lives, their two grandsons, grow up. They attended events from peewee wrestling to high school ball games and track meets.
Clifford was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Cyntha Bennett; brothers, William and Clarence; and sisters, Eleanor Peterson and Evilyn Harvey.
Clifford is survived by his wife, Mary Louise; daughters, Jennifer and husband Rick Lett of Yuma and Beverly and husband Vito Gennaro of Aurora; two grandsons, Justin Lett and wife Beth of Parker and Sean Lett and wife Hanna of Aurora; four great-grandchildren, Madison Rose and Emily Anne Lett and Alexis Rae and Christian Loranni Lett; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The funeral service was held Jan. 2 at Baucke Funeral Home in Holyoke. Interment followed at the Holyoke Cemetery.
Baucke Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.