Beloved father, grandfather, farmer and friend Elmer "Bill" Benson of Pasco passed away on January 12, 2012. Bill was born to Elmer and Betty Benson on February 16, 1922 in Burbank, California. Bill was a graduate of Antelope Valley High in Lancaster, California where he met his wife Norma Waggoner Benson. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on New Year's Eve. Bill farmed and trained and rode cutting horses in Lancaster. In 1975 Bill and Norma moved to Pasco to farm with their daughter and son-in-law. On the farm Bill oversaw alfalfa hay operations, tolerated his wife's piano playing and taught all his grandchildren how to drive. Bill was a member of the National Cutting Horse Association and a longtime board member of the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association. He is preceded in death by his parents and sister Betty. Survivors include his wife Norma, daughter Gayle Ransom and son-in-law Bob Ransom of Pasco and daughter Cathy Paul of Portland. Grandchildren John Ransom of Bend, Oregon, Shelley Ransom and John Armour of Ellensburg, Toby and Johanna Paul of Portland and Seth Paul of Seattle. Great granddaughters Josie and Zoe Armour and Valentina Paul. Cousins Pete Rasmussen of Lake Tahoe, California and Joe Ann Allen of Palm Desert, California. The family would like to thank the staff at Lourdes Medical Center and Paige, Debra, Viola and the staff at Fleur de Lis for providing kind and compassionate care during Papa's last days. Services will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church, 1322 Kimball Ave in Richland on Friday, January 20th, at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice at the Chaplaincy, 1480 Fowler St, Richland, WA 99352.