FAREWELL BENNIE

July 6, 1972 Seward Phoenix Log

Benny Benson, designer of the Alaska Flag, died in Kodiak Sunday. he will be mourned by people all over the State-but no one more than Seward where as a boy of 13 he designed the flag.

Bennie’s ties to Seward remained strong even though he lived in Kodiak where he worked as an airplane mechanic. He returned to Seward frequently-for conventions and events of the B.P.O. Elks, American Legion, and various celebrations.

He was honored guest in Seward on the 4th of July in 1967, Centennial year.

At that time the historical plaque commemorating his designing of the flag was presented ot the CIty. It now is displayed at the Seward Community Library. The library at the new William H. Seward Elementary School bears his name. Benson Drive in Jesse Lee Subdivision was named for him also.

He was born in Chignik on October 12, 1913, son of a Swedish man and an Aleut woman. He was proud of his heritage. When he became an orphan he came to the Jesse Lee Home in Seward-it was while he was living there that he designed the flag for a contest sponsored by the American Legion in 1927.

He was a nephew of Eva and Alice Lowell-daughters of Frank Lowell, the man who homesteaded the area on which the City of Seward now stands. Mount Eva and Mount Alice were named for the two sisters.

Bennie had a leg amputated in 1969 but soon returned to work. He married a second time in 1970. He is survived by his wife Anna and his two daughters Mrs. Anny May Herman of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Mrs. Charlotte Irvin of Ewa Beach, Hawaii. He is also survived by four grandchildren.

All who knew him will miss Bennie - but few men leave something as wonderful to be remembered by as Bennie did. Every time we see the flag we will remember.