Edmund John “Pat” Bennett was born in Elgin, Nebraska on January 1, 1911 to Charles H Bennett and Mary Willenberg. His education was at St. Boniface Elementary School. He spent several years in California and volunteered for service during World War II. He served for five years, spending three years at Hickam Field in Hawaii. He returned to Elgin after the war and worked with his brother Leonard in the blacksmith shop.
He married Freda Watson, daughter of Edwin
L. Watson and Florence Riley, on May 16, 1953 in Columbus, Nebraska. Pat started a blacksmith shop in Howells, Nebraska
and Freda taught school. Poor health
caused Pat to dissolve his shop. The
family moved back to Elgin where he was a salesman for Bennett
implement. He died on March 13, 1968. Freda remained involved in education. She was a 1943 graduate of Neligh High,
received a BA degree at Wayne State and a MA degree from the University of
Nebraska. She retired in May, 1986,
after 43 years of service in Nebraska public schools.
Source Unknown: Originally submitted for this website in June 2007