Ray Wesley Bennett

Ray W. Bennett passed away at the age of 88 on March 7, 2026 in Geneseo, Illinois.  He was born February 16, 1938, to Frank and Edna Bennett, of Verona, Illinois.  Ray and his younger brother, Gary, grew up on the family farm.  Ray attended a one-room schoolhouse for his elementary years and after high school graduation, went on to attend the University of Illinois.  He also enlisted in the Army Reserves, serving for seven years with a final rank of Staff Sergeant.  His time as a gunner cementing his passion for riflery.  Even later in life, in his 70’s, he took a course to become a certified gun reloader.  Ray was also proud to be a 32nd degree Master Mason, continuing his education through the Scottish Rite.  He was also a Shriner.  First and foremost though, Ray was a farmer, growing tomatoes, soybeans, and corn.  During his farming years, he was married to Carol Peterson of Morris, Illinois and they had a son, Aaron.  Ray’s love for farming ran deep but he eventually moved on from it in the early 1980’s.  Ray married Joanne Swason of Geneseo, Illinois and together they moved to the Flathead Valley in Montana to raise their daughter, Amanda.  Out West, they also raised Arabian horses, and Ray started his own independent trucking business.  Ray hauled anything that needed be moved to anywhere in the United States, and in any kind of weather!  He hauled a small airplane to the east coast, cabins, wagons, cars, animal feed, countless horses across the country, and lots of hay bales.  He also made the drive to Alaska a dozen times, hauling for hire and moving his daughter up in 2004.  In 2010, Ray and Joanne, decided to live on the road full-time.  They lived in a 5th wheel RV the last 15 years of their lives!  Ray loved winters in the middle of the Arizona desert, walking miles each day, out amongst the cacti.  In the summers, they traveled between Montana, Alaska, and Illinois, visiting family.  For many summers, he was a very popular campground host in Big Lake, Alaska, while visiting his daughter Amanda and her family.  He could help maneuver huge RVs into some very tight spaces and he could back any size boat down the ramp.  No matter the season or the job, he always had on his cowboy boots.  Ray and Joanne celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary on June 7, 2025. Ray joins Joanne (Jo), who passed away December 15, 2025.   Ray will be greatly missed, but his favorite song was “Go Rest High on That Mountain” by Vince Gill, and as the lyrics say, “Go rest high on that mountain, Son, your work on earth is done”.

He is survived by his brother Gary Bennett of Illinois; daughter, Amanda Skiff, her husband Todd Skiff, and their daughter Hadley of Alaska; son, Aaron Bennett of Illinois; and niece Angie Issert of Illinois and her family.  During the last few months of his life, Jo’s sisters and brothers helped care for him, and his family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude for their compassion.