^{Wickenburg Obituaries from the Wickenburg Sun}

 

Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ
April 4, 2001 p. A13
MYRON GARY BEACH died March 17 at his home in Reno, Nevada. He was 53. Mr. Beach was born in Lancaster County, Pa., on June 5, 1947. Survivors include his father, of Myrtle Point, Oregon; sisters Nancy O’DONNELL and Sandra CONLEY, both of Wickenburg; two aunts; two nephews; one niece; and three grand-nephews. There were no services.

Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona
September 30, 1996
JACK C. BECK of Wickenburg, died Oct. 25 in Wickenburg. He was 79. Mr. Beck was born July 25, 1917 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He had lived in Arizona for 44 years. Survivors include his wife, Mary WOOLF BECK of Wickenburg; daughter Pamela STAPLEY of Scottsdale; sisters Vermilla POPE and Mary EARL, both of Utah; and 10 grandchildren. Services have been held.

Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona
January 20, 1996
MARY WOOLF BECK of Wickenburg died Nov. 18 in Mesa. She was 79. Mrs. Beck was born Feb. 2, 1917, Metropolis, Nev. She had lived in Arizona for the past 44 years, coming here from Utah. Survivors include her daughter, Pamela Stapley of Scottsdale; sisters Alberta Rosehand and Ruth Madsen, both of Utah; brother Jack Woolf of Mesa; nephew Richard Hatch; and 11 grandchildren. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 at Paradise Memorial Gardens, 9300 E. Shea Blvd., in Scottsdale. Pastor Doug Eckert will officiate.

April 29, 1955, p. 4
Services Wednesday For BARBARA BECKETT
Funeral services were held here Wednesday at the Assembly of God Church for BARBARA E. BECKETT, age 7, of Casa Grande, who died in that town April 23. Burial was in the Wickenburg Cemetery. The little girl was the daughter of Mrs. Mildred BECKETT of, Wickenburg.

Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona
Oct. 7, 1955, p. 1
One Dead And One Injured Following Accident At Mine
ERNEST BECKWORTH, 45, of Redlands, California, is dead and James P. RUST, 34, of Salome is in Community Hospital as the result of an accident at the Cactus Johnson lead mine 14½ miles south of Salome about noon September 30.
According to the story Mr. Rust told at the hospital, he was handling the brake equipment on a cable lift and Mr. Beckworth was riding in an empty bucket on the lift. He says a clamp on a loaded bucket snagged an empty bucket causing the cable to snap. The snapping cable hit Mr. Rust and knocked him down the steep mountain incline. And the bucket in which Mr. Beckworth was riding plunged down the mountainside. Mr. Rust said he spent several hours calling for help. As no one could hear him, he crawled some 1,000 feet to his truck and drove to Salome. He was brought to the hospital here where it was discovered he had a compound fracture of the left leg, cuts and bruises. A rescue party from Salome went immediately to the mine to help Beckworth. It was approximately nine hours after the accident before he arrived at the hospital here. He died the following afternoon. His body has been shipped to Amarillo, Texas, for burial.

Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona
May 30, 2007, p. A12
RICARDO BEJARANO-VALENZUELA, age 45, passed away May 21 after suffering from cancer. Funeral Mass was held on Wednesday, May 23 at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony's of Padua Catholic Church in Wickenburg with Fr. George Highberger as celebrant. Rosary was said on Tuesday at Wickenburg Funeral Home. Ricardo was born and raised in La Vinata Alamos, Sonora, Mexico. He came to the Wickenburg area in 1997 and began working in landscaping, working for various companies in the area. He was a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Ricardo is survived by his wife, Olga of Wickenburg; children Yesenia, Paloma, Enriqueta, Ricardo and Carlos all of Wickenburg; five brothers; seven sisters; and three grandchildren Ricardo Javier, Natalie Galaz, and Clarissa Soto. Arrangements were under the direction of Wickenburg Funeral Home.

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Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona
June 9, 1961
Rites In Texas For FELAND BELL Funeral services were scheduled to be held in Pampa, Texas, Thursday of this week for FELAND BELL, 66-year-old Salome resident who died in Community Hospital Sunday morning. Mr. Bell was born near Pampa where he farmed until moving to Salome two years ago to reside with a brother, John Bell. Surviving, in addition to the Salome brother, are tow other brothers and two sister, all residing in Texas.

Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona
November 27, 1996
JOSEPH H. BELL of Phoenix, and formerly of Wickenburg, died Nov. 19 in Phoenix. He was 89. Mr. Bell was born May 30, 1907 in Deming, N.M. He had lived in Arizona for the past eight years. Mr. Bell had grown up in New Mexico, Arizona and California as family moved with job opportunities on the Santa Fe Railroad. The family lived in Phoenix for a time, and Joe attended school in Peoria. He was first employed on the Santa Fe Railroad with the Los Angeles Division in 1923, and after serving ill various job he was promoted to Roadmaster on the Valley Division on June 1, 1943. Mr. BELL served in that capacity for 29 years while he and his wife lived in the Fresno, Calif., area. He retired in 1972 with 47 years of service with Santa-Fe Railroad. For years, he and his wife Martha were active in the Gem and Mineral Society activities. They were invited to numerous society shows in the western states to display their lapidary talents. Mr. Bell was noted for his skill with channel jewelry. Survivors include his daughter Roxanne DILBECK of Phoenix; and daughter and son-in-law Gwen and William BROOKS of Prescott. He was preceded in death by his wife Martha W. BELL in 1988. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Wickenburg Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Mike Abdollabzadeh officiating. Interment was conducted at the Wickenburg Cemetery. Brown's Wickenburg Funeral Home handled all the arrangements.

Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona
December 18, 2008
JOSEPH BELL and CARRIE ENRIQUEZ MACIAS BELL
On a beautiful clear fall afternoon following Thanksgiving, the family of CARRIE and JOSEPH BELL paid their final respects. CARRIE ENRIQUEZ was born on Feb. 3, 1931 in Phoenix, Ariz., to Viviano Enriquez and Virginia RODRIQUEZ ENRIQUEZ. She married a cousin, rancher Raymond MACIAS from Wickenburg, and lived on the 6M Ranch. Ramon died in 1964 and as his widow she inherited the historic Macias Ranch. Carrie was a hard worker, whether she was greeting customers at the downtown Wickenburg Pharmacy, or as a personal domestic assistant to one of the winter residents living on the mesa at Los Cab. She met Joseph Bell, a union electrician on a construction project in town, and they remained side by side for more than 40 years. Together they ran cattle on the ranch until illness kept them from chores, and finally three years ago the majority of the ranch was sold. Their home place, the adobe house they constructed on the original site of the Macias Hacienda, is where they lived until relocating to an assisted care residency in Surprise. Joe passed away on Jan. 28, 2008, and Carrie joined him on Sept. 20, 2008. Their ashes were spread in the form of their brand 4Z in the damp sand of the Hassayampa River, original land of the ranch, by their nephew Frankie Joe ROMERO. They are survived by sisters Vera ENRIQUEZ ROMERO CHAPA, Gloria ENRIQUEZ MANSON, brother-in-law Ed MANSON, nephews Frank ROMERO and Robert ROMERO, nieces Diana and Christine and their families, cousins Manuel MACIAS, Alfred and Leroy HERSHKOWITZ, Nadine Champlin, Ersie RANDOLPH, Bobby WARNER, and many other relatives and friends.

Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona
December 18, 1996
THEODORE VINCENT BELL of Morristown died Dec. 13 in Wickenburg. He was 73. Mr. Bell was born April 7, 1923 in Canada. He had lived in Arizona for the past year, coming from Texas. Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law Peggy and Don PAULSON of Morristown; daughter Jane GASKE of Moorpark, Calif.; grandchildren John KIRBY of Morristown and Greg GASKE of Moorpark; and mother-in-law Marguerita FOSTER of Vancouver, British Columbia. Mr. BELL was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Rita BELL of Morristown, in 1994. Private family services will be held at a later date.

Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona
April 17, 1996
MARGARET A. BENCINA-WRIGHT, of Tempe, died April 11 in Mesa. She was 37. Mrs. Bencina-Wright was born Aug. 20, 1957 in Savannah, Ga. She had lived in Arizona for 22 years, coming here from Washington. She was a self-taught painter who especially enjoyed painting the Arizona landscapes. She also enjoyed arts and crafts. Mrs. Bencina-Wright attended Mesa and Phoenix Community Colleges. She then went on to work at the Museum of Science and Technology in Phoenix. She is survived by her husband, Kevin Wright of Tempe; mother and step-father Juana C, and Gary Shudy of Wickenburg; father George R. Chapple; daughters Jennifer and Alicia Bencina of Alabama; son Tony Bencina of Alabama; sisters Sharon Zimmerman of Texas, Marie Chapple, Mildred Lutch, and Emily Rice, all of Arizona; and brother George R. Chapple III of Minnesota. Private family services and interment will be held Sunday, Jan. 7 at 11:30 a.m. at the Wickenburg Municipal Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Bencina-Wright's name to American Cancer Society, Arizona Division Inc., Wickenburg Unit, P.O. Box 1975, Wickenburg, Ariz. 85358. Frey Funeral Home and Cremation Service handled all arrangements.

Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona
June 5, 1959
GUY F. BENEDICT Rites Saturday
Funeral Services for GUY F. BENEDICT are scheduled to be conducted in the Wickenburg Chapel tomorrow (Saturday) at an hour yet to be announced. Burial will follow in the Wickenburg Cemetery. Mr. Benedict died in Community Hospital at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday following two heart attacks. He has been a patient in the hospital for one week. Born in New York state 78 years ago last January, Mr. Benedict was a farmer and thrasher there for many years until he retired and moved to Wickenburg 12 years ago. Here he resided on property he owned adjacent to the southeast corner of the Hassayampa River Bridge. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Doris Wake of Toronto, Canada who was here at the time of her father’s death; a son, William Benedict of Himrod, N. Y.; one brother, Charles Benedict of Newark, Del.; a sister Anna Benedict of Elmira, N. Y.; and six grandchildren.

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ
April 3, 1986, p. 10
JAMES JAY BEATTY, 63, of Wickenburg, died March 28 in the Fort Whipple Veteran's Hospital in Prescott. He was born Oct. 30, 1922 in Forest Hills, Pa. and lived in Arizona for eight years. After retiring from a career in the U.S. Army, he was employed as an electrician. Survivors include his wife, Irene, of Wickenburg and one brother, James Sheedy, of Elizabeth, Pa. Graveside services will be April 2 at 2 p.m. at the Wickenburg Cemetery with pastor Bruce McQueen, of Wickenburg's First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Visitation was at 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday. Arrangements were made through Wickenburg Funeral Home

Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona
January 17, 1996
MAETA DENNIS BENNETT , of Wickenburg and formerly of Fort Smith, Ark. died Dec. 8 in Fort Smith. She was 73. She was a retired executive secretary for Hiram Walker. She was a former member of St John's Episcopal Church in Fort Smith where she was a layreader and vestry member of St. Margaret, St Michael's Guild, and a member of Zonta International Professional Women’s Club. She was also a member of St. Alban Episcopal Church in Wickenburg where she was a layreader and chaplain of the ECW. Mrs. Bennett was a director of public relations for Desert Caballeros Western Museum and a member of Las Senoras Service League. Mrs. Bennett is survived by daughters Laura Brett Bennett of San Diego, Calif., and Terri L. Rogers of Fort Smith, Ark.; sister Jo Crenshaw of Raleigh, N.C.; brothers Walton Dennis of Raleigh, N.C. and Charles Dennis of Florence, S.C.; and grandchildren Mathew Parker and Julie Rogers both of Fort Smith, Ark. Memorial services have been held. Entombment will be in March at St. Alban Episcopal Church. Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Bennett's name to St Albano Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 211161, Wickenburg, Ariz. 85358, or St. John's Episcopal Church, 215 N. Sixth St. Fort Smith, Ark.72901.

 

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The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ
March 5, 2008 p. A8
DANIEL PAUL BENNETT, Sr., 73, passed away Feb. 20, 2008 in Surprise, Ariz. He was born Aug. 17, 1934 in Ramsey, West Virginia, to Jacob Eugene BENNETT and Marie McCUNE BENNETT. He was raised in Ramsey and attended schools there. He later served in the U.S. Army and following his military service returned to West Virginia. He came to Arizona in the 1960’s and settled in Phoenix, where he began working in construction and roofing. In 1985, he settled in Wittmann. Daniel was an outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing, traveling and working around home. He was a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Hall in Wickenburg. He is survived by his wife Ruth Ann of Wittmann; daughters and sons-in-law Deborah and Joe RODRIGUEZ of Goodyear, Shari and Brian FORD of Safford, Az., Martha and Keith Rich of Peoria, Az., and Linda and Ray Smith of Davison Mich.; daughter Virginia Jean of Tennessee; sons and daughters-in-law Bryan and Jay McDONALD of Polson, Mont., Brent and Lisa McDONALD of Phoenix, and Bruce and Carolyn McDONALD of Hudson, Ind.; son Jake BENNETT of Wickenburg; brother Chester BENNETT of Indianapolis, Ind.; 25 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by son Danny BENNETT. Private family services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Wickenburg Funeral Home and Crematory.

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ
June 5, 1996
MAETTA BENNETT – Memorial services for Maetta Dennis Bennett, 73, of Wickenburg and formerly of Ft. Smith, Arkansas, who died Dec. 8 in Ft. Smith, will be Thursday, June 6 at 10 a.m. in St. Alban Episcopal Church. Fr. Dan Gerrard will officiate. Entombment of Mrs. Bennett's remains will follow.

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ
April 3, 1986, p. 10
STEPHEN JESSE BENNETT, 76, died March 29 at his home in Wickenburg. He was born in Vassar, Canada, on April 6, 1909 and lived in Arizona for nine years. He was employed in reserve mining out of Babbitt, Minn. He was a member of the Roseau Lodge No. 268 of Roseau, Minn., and an honorary member of United Steel Workers of America. He is survived by his wife, Esther Alice, of Wickenburg; one brother, Laurel, formerly of Wickenburg, now of Ely, Minn.; one sister, Elaine Harnden, of Fairmont, Minn.; several nieces and nephews. Memorial services are pending and will be conducted in Ely, Minn. Arrangements are being made through the Wickenburg Funeral Home.

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ
Oct. 9, 1959, p. 1
CHARLES BERG Rites Monday
American Legion conducted graveside rites late Monday afternoon in Wickenburg Cemetery for CHARLES BERG, 82-year-old Wickenburg resident who died at 5 p.m. Thursday of last week in the Veterans Hospital, Phoenix. He had been in ill health for the past four years. Mr. Berg served in the Spanish-American War. He worked for a railroad in Illinois for 20 years for a before moving to Wickenburg 35 years ago. He resided here at the east end of Yavapai Street at the site of the former Wishing Well Trailer Court. Mr. Berg was born in Streator, Illois, September 23, 1877. Only survivor is the widow, Mrs. Grace BERG.

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ
May 8, 1996
GEORGE BERG of Peoria and formerly of Wickenburg, died April 29 in Peoria. He was 80. Mr. Berg was born July 25, 1915 in Duluth, Minn. He has lived in Arizona for the past 12 years. Mr. Berg was a U.S. Navy veteran and avid golfer. He enjoyed traveling and fishing on the Columbia River in Oregon. He was a member of the Wickenburg Country Club. Survivors inc1ude his sister Dorothy BOORMAN of Duluth, and a nephew, Richard G. BOORMAN of Duluth. Private burial was in the Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix. All arrangements were handled by Brown’s Wickenburg Funeral Home.

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The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ
November 9, 1956, p. 1
Highway Accident Near Here Claims Life Of Motorist
Mrs. Nora BERKHEIMER, age 52, and her daughter, Shirley, 32, are reported in fair condition at Community Hospital here where they were taken late Tuesday 'afternoon following an automobile accident four miles west of town which claimed the life of their husband and father, CLARENCE BERKHEIMER, age 52. The two women are suffering from multiple injuries. MR. BERKHEIMER was killed instantly in the one car accident which according to the highway patrol, occurred when their car failed to round a curve near the Flying E Ranch entrance, spun off the highway and overturned. All three were thrown from the car. The family, which has been residing in Los Angeles, was enroute to a new home in El Paso, Texas, at the time of the accident. According to figures furnished The SUN by the Arizona Highway Patrol, the death of Mr. BERKHEIMER was the eighth highway fatality on state-patrolled roads in the Wickenburg patrol area this year.

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ
Dec 5, 2001, p. A20
ERNEST BERNARDO of Lancaster, Pa., and formerly of Wickenburg, died Oct. 27, 2001 at Lancaster Regional Medical Center. He had lived in Wickenburg for eight years - a member of the Posse and Knights of Columbus at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Marilyn; daughters Pam of Hatfield, Pa., Susan of Atlanta, Ga., Mary Ellen of York, Pa., and Jeannette of Willow Street, Pa.; and seven grandchildren, two brothers and one sister of Branford, Conn. He was buried on Nov. 2 at the St. Agnes Cemetery after a mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary's Church in Branford.

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ
Jan 17, 2001, p. A16
ELENORA RUTH BERNHARDT of Congress, died Jan 10 in Sun City West. She was 78. Mrs. BERNHARDT was born Dec. 8, 1922 in Coloma, Mich. Survivors include three children, Bob Bernhardt, Jr., Larry BERNHARDT and Sue JOURDAN; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. No services are scheduled at this time.

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ
November 30, 2006
CAROLYNE MARIE BERNIER, 59, passed away on Nov. 21 in Sun City West. She was born Nov. 13, 1946 in Ashville, N.C. She is survived by one son James MOULTON and companion Pete GRABER. No services are scheduled. Arrangements by Frey-Wickenburg Funeral Home.

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ
April 24, 1986, p. 10
GLENN R. BERRY, 79, died April 16 in Loma Linda, Calif. He was born in Aberdeen, Wash., but lived in Wickenburg from 1970 to 1979 at the Remuda Ranch. He was a member of the Desert Caballeros and the Three R's. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; two sons; a daughter and eight grandchildren. Memorial services were April 19 in Loma Linda, Calif. The family requests memorial donations be made to the United Cerebral Palsy Association.

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ
Oct 31, 1955, p. 1
Rites Wednesday For J. F. BERRY
Funeral services were held at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Wickenburg Chapel for JOSEPH FELIX BERRY, 76-year-old Wittmann resident, who died in Community Hospital Sunday afternoon late. Rev Bill BARKER, pastor of the Baptist Church, officiated. Burial was in the Wickenburg Cemetery. Mr. Berry was born September 27, 1879, in Merrian, Illinois. He came to Arizona in 1920, locating at Wittmann where he and his brother, John, operated a general store and the post office for 24 years. They sold out in 1944. Surviving are two brothers, John D. of Wittmann and William P., who resides in Missouri, and a sister, Mrs. Jennie E. FALK of Ft. Worth, Texas.

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ
August 17, 2005, p.B8
AGNES DOROTHY BERTRAM passed away July 30, 2005 in Apopka, Fla. She was born in Mancelona, Mich., on April 25, 1927 to Fred J. and Frances Schwaebe Bertram. She was raised in Michigan and later attended and graduated from the University of Dayton-Ohio. She came to Arizona some 15 years ago, settling in Wickenburg in 1992. She taught Special Education for years, teaching Braile and signing to those with special needs. She was also a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. She is survived by a sister, Evelyn Labor of Fountain Colo.; brother Harry Bertram of Detroit Lakes, Minn.; nephew David Sequeira of Wickenburg; and many nieces and nephews. Private family services will be held, with burial in the Wickenburg Municipal Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of Frey-Wickenburg Funeral Home.

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ
January 2, 2008 p. A10
Memorial services for HAZEL M. BESMER, age 90, who passed away Dec 26 at her residence in Wickenburg will be held on Friday (Jan 4) at 2 p.m. at Wickenburg Funeral Home. She was preceded in death by her husband BRUCE BESMER March 25, 2006. She is survived by her daughters Vivian KLINCK (David) of Windsor, Ontario, Canada and Karen BRUMIT (William) of Grand Rapids, Mich., stepdaughter-in-law Debbie BESMER of Grand Rapids, Mich., brother Roger CHAPEL of Grand Rapids, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. The family suggest memorials be made to the Hospice of Arizona, 2222 W. Northern Ave., Ste. A-100 Phoenix, AZ 85021 Arrangements are under the direction of Wickenburg Funeral Home and Crematory.

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ
March 15, 1957, p. 1
KING ATWOOD Is Injured As Car Wreck Kills Two
KING ATWOOD, 17-year-old son of Mrs. Bob DYAR of Wickenburg, is back in school at Arizona State College, Flagstaff, after escaping serious injury in an automobile accident in which two of his classmates were killed and three others were injured. The accident happened Friday about 23 miles south of Flagstaff on Highway 89-A when, according to Highway Patrolman Ed SHORT, the car in which the boys were riding hit a stone wall and over turned. The two fatally injured were HAROLD JOE BEYARD, 22, of Seligman, and RUSSELL BRUNSON HICKS, 18, of Clifton. Hicks had spent the Washington's birthday weekend in Wickenburg as Atwood's guest. Injured were Charles Richard SCHEIER, 18, of Morenci, John William BLEE, 20, of Miami, and Atwood. The latter's injuries consisted of bruises on the head and one leg. Mrs. Dyar received word of the accident from her son Friday evening and early Saturday morning was flown to Flagstaff by Pete PETERSEN in his plane. Mr. Petersen went to Flagstaff Monday morning and returned Mrs. DYAR to Wickenburg.

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