In Memory of

Terry

Lee

Benner

Obituary for Terry Lee Benner



Terry Lee Benner, 81, of Thompsontown, passed away on the afternoon of June 18th, 2022, at Brookline Manor and Rehabilitative Services in Mifflintown. He went peacefully and was surrounded by his loving family.


Terry was born in Front Royal, Virginia on October 14th, 1940 to the late Earl and Dorothy Benner. As a young child, Terry’s family moved to Thompsontown, of which he became a lifelong resident. After graduating from East Juniata High School in 1958, Terry attended Thompson Business Institute. He then gave 34 years of service to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, working as an auditor. Later on as part of his “retirement,” Terry also served seven years as the secretary/treasurer of the Thompsontown Borough and subsequently spent eleven years working as a part-time driver for Regester Chevrolet. Many former co-workers and employees respected Terry and now remember him fondly.


On May 31st 1958, Terry married Hedda J. (Hartman) Benner of Mifflin. She was the love of his life, and they were blessed to share over 64 years of marriage. They spent their life together in Thompsontown and enjoyed family vacations to Ocean City, MD for many decades.


Terry is survived by his wife, Hedda, and their two daughters, Annette L. Shelley and her husband Herm Umholtz of Enola, and Joey B. Amey, of Thompsontown and her significant other, Mark Feltman of McAlisterville. Terry is also survived by his grandchildren, Jenna Brininger and her husband Cody of Mifflinburg, grandson-in-law, Andrew Ciecierski of Lewistown, Laurel Amey of Thompsontown, and Tristan Amey of Thompsontown; and lastly, Terry is survived by three great-grandchildren: Aiden, Everly, and Juniper.


He was preceded in death by three grandchildren: Ryan Shelley, Rachel Shelley, and Daris Shelley Ciecierski of McAlisterville.


Terry was very active in the local community, as he was a member of the Thompsontown United Methodist Church, Millerstown Moose Lodge #925, Amvets, Crawford Brubaker VFW Post 5863 of Mifflintown, and the American Legion Post 298 of Mifflintown. He was also a member of the Union Lodge No. 324 F& AM in Mifflintown and a member of the Tall Cedars of Lebanon.


Terry was an avid hunter and greatly enjoyed playing or watching sports of all kinds. He ventured on many annual hunting trips both near and far. Terry was a member of the 1956 Juniata County VFW Teener League All-Star team that went on to win the 1956 Pennsylvania VFW Teener State Championship. The baseball team went on to the National VFW Teener Tournament as Pennsylvania’s representative and finished in third place – the National Consolation Champions. Terry continued to play, coach, and referee softball and soccer as an adult. Additionally, he was a lifelong East Juniata soccer fan, often traveling great distances to watch the teams play. Later in life, Terry also enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s sporting events and activities.


A funeral service will be held at 1:00pm on Friday, June 24, 2022 at the Brown Funeral Homes, Inc, 111 Westfall St, McAlisterville, with Jodi L. Strawser officiating. Interment will follow at the Locust Run Cemetery in Thompsontown.


A viewing will be held from 5 -7 pm on Thursday, June 23, 2022 at the funeral home where a Masonic Funeral Service will be held at 6:45 PM.


In lieu of flowers, donations in Terry’s memory can be made to Hospice 365, 220 Regent Court, Suite E-2, State College, PA 16801 or to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org).