Rex Palmer Bennion passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on July 9, 2015, at the age of 84. Rex was born in Bennion, Utah, on Jan. 2, 1931, to William Ellis Bennion and Phebe Effie Palmer. 
He was born into a family of nine boys: William Vern, Stan, Wayne, Morris, Paul, Don, Kenneth, with Rex being the youngest. Rex was raised on a farm in Bennion. He and his brothers helped their father in all aspects of farm life and he learned the value of hard work. Rex married his eternal sweetheart, Donna Colleen Riddle, on Jan. 26, 1951, in the Salt Lake Temple. They have four children: Christi (David) Cluff, Cindy (Michael) Hollar, Sharon (Ken) Spence and Gary (Lori Bennion). Rex and Colleen have 28 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren with two more arriving this fall. Two grandchildren preceded him in death. Rex honorably served in the Korean War for two years in Manheim, Germany, 1951-1953. He was an avid basketball player in his younger days. He played for Bennion and Tooele wards. He coached several senior men’s basketball teams. Rex worked as an assistant manager at Boise Cascade Lumber. Later, he went to work for the Tooele Army Depot and retired after 25 years of employment. Rex and Colleen treasured their time with family and friends, at their Wildwood cabin in Provo and boating at Lake Powell. They loved the outdoors and worked together making many improvements to their cabin. Rex came from stalwart Utah pioneer heritage. He was a member of the Sons of the Utah Pioneers and served as SUP president for two years. He was in charge of the SUP National Encampment held in Tooele. Rex was a faithful member of the LDS Church all of his life. His numerous callings in the church included serving as bishop of the Tooele 6th ward and counselor in several bishoprics. He also served on the Stake High Council. Together, Rex and Colleen served three missions: The Tooele Employment Center, Connecticut Hartford Mission (proselyting) and the Missouri Independence Mission at Liberty Jail. Rex was proud of his family and had a strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Rex’s family expresses appreciation to the kind staff at Magnolia House and Canyon Hospice for the caring and loving way they served Rex the last seven months.
Funeral services were held on Monday, July 13 at 11 a.m. at the Tooele Stake Center, 253 S. 200 East, Tooele. Visitation was Sunday, July 12 from 6-8 p.m. at Tate Mortuary with a viewing at the church, 9:30-10:45 a.m. prior to funeral services on Monday.