Benson

Joseph M. Benson, 87, of Butler died early Monday morning at Butler Memorial Hospital.

He was born in Oakland Township, Nov. 19, 1921, a son of the late Joseph F. and Margaret Wright Benson.

Joe was a retired railroad locomotive engineer, having worked for 40 years for the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad throughout Butler and the Western Pennsylvania area. He retired in 1982.

A lifelong member of the St. Peter Catholic Church in Butler, he was a life member of Butler Elks Lodge 170; Butler VFW Post 249; Knights of Columbus, Butler Council 866; the Esquire Club; and the Century Club; and was a 55-year member of Local 596 Local of the United Transportation Union.

A proud and decorated veteran of World War II, Joe had served in the 26th "Yankee" Division of the 101st Infantry, Third Army in Europe. He was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received in combat, a Bronze Star and four Battle Stars.Surviving are his wife, Janis Dreher Benson, who he married June 27, 1946; a brother-in-law, Clair Dreher and his wife, Jean; and a sister-in-law, Gertrude Dreher; all of Butler.As the last surviving member of his immediate family of six children, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Floyd and Bernard Benson; and three sisters, Anna Waltman, Ruth Paserba and Edith Steighner.

<B>BENSON </B>— Friends of Joseph M. Benson, who died Monday, May 18, 2009, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at the St. Peter Catholic Church, 127 Franklin St., Butler. The Rev. James Dolan, pastor, will officiate. Entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum, Butler.The Women's Council of St. Peter will recite the rosary at 9:40 a.m. Friday at the church.The family requests that memorial donations be made to Concordia Lutheran Ministries, 134 Marwood Road, Cabot, PA 16023.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.