Rev. Dennis C. Benson's Obituary
Rev. Dennis C. Benson who resided in Port Sheldon, Michigan died on June 10th, 2021 at the age of 85 years.
Dennis was born on June 8th, 1936 in Detroit, Michigan. He was the only child of Dennis and Delores Benson and was raised in Royal Oak. Dennis graduated from the University of Michigan. He received his Masters of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago and continued graduate work at the University of Chicago.
After serving a church in Tinley Park, Illinois, he served as chaplain at Waynesburg College in Pennsylvania.
During his tenure at Christian Associates in Pittsburgh, he also hosted the KQV-AM/WDVE-FM radio program “Rap-Around.” On WQED TV, Dennis hosted “The Place.”
In 1969 Dennis’s first book, “The Now Generation,” was published, followed by twenty-one other books. Throughout Dennis’s career and involvement in media he interviewed rockstars, celebrities and everyday people. His creative founding and leadership of Presbyterian Media Mission helped to lead congregations in understanding how to utilize media. Dennis accepted a faculty position to pioneer a Masters program in religious communication at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.
In his later years he spent many hours interviewing people from all walks of life throughout western Michigan. Through the creation of his Facebook community of thousands of people, Dennis shared stories of his interactions with the lives of others and received support and love.
Dennis and Marilyn (Workman) married in 1960 and raised their daughters Amy (David) Soucy and Jill (Michael) VanAntwerpen in Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania. Throughout the years, Dennis enjoyed participating in the lives of their three much-loved grandchildren, Isabelle, Owen, and Eli, all of whom survive him. He is also survived and missed by beloved brother-in-law and sister-in-law Ralph and Marianna (Workman) Cowie, many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and many cousins. Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Dennis and Delores Benson.
The absence of Dennis’s presence in our lives through different media is felt deeply.
In lieu of flowers, the family shares that donations can be made to either McCormick Theological Seminary or Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy in Dennis’ honor.
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