Bill, Tom Nelson, Jim VanHee and I were like brothers in Jr. High School and beyond. We spent a lot of our time over on Bancroft where the REAL girls lived. Bill and I both lived in single parent families, he with his wonderful mom, Gert and I with my dad. Me dad kinda adopted Bill into our family and on three summer vacations my Dad and I took Bill to Yellowstone, the Colorado rockies and the North Shore. We also went skiing not only at Old Smokey and Hallaway Hill but Bill, Tom and I also took a Christmas ski trip to Lutsen.
Bill always had a smile on his face and was always making and getting into trouble. Bill never talked much about his father BUT Joe Sr. was a member of the famous Notre Dame football teams "seven mules" and was the tight end and receiver coach for Notre Dame in the 40's.
I don't remember anyone saying anything bad about Billy. I spent many a night over a the Bendas small upstairs apartment on Broadway and was always treated to a great meal and friendship with not only Bill but his mother Gertrude, our Jr. high. Libarian, and Bills older brother Joe jr.
He fought a number of demons in his life after college and left this world WAY too early before he was even 35. I miss him!! I hope you finally have found some peace Billy Benda my friend.
John Erickson
Bill, Tom Nelson, Jim VanHee and I were like brothers in Jr. High School and beyond. We spent a lot of our time over on Bancroft where the REAL girls lived.
Bill and I both lived in single parent families, he with his wonderful mom, Gert and I with my dad. Me dad kinda adopted Bill into our family and on three summer vacations my Dad and I took Bill to Yellowstone, the Colorado rockies and the North Shore. We also went skiing not only at Old Smokey and Hallaway Hill but Bill, Tom and I also took a Christmas ski trip to Lutsen.
Bill always had a smile on his face and was always making and getting into trouble. Bill never talked much about his father BUT Joe Sr. was a member of the famous Notre Dame football teams "seven mules" and was the tight end and receiver coach for Notre Dame in the 40's.
I don't remember anyone saying anything bad about Billy. I spent many a night over a the Bendas small upstairs apartment on Broadway and was always treated to a great meal and friendship with not only Bill but his mother Gertrude, our Jr. high. Libarian, and Bills older brother Joe jr.
He fought a number of demons in his life after college and left this world WAY too early before he was even 35. I miss him!!
I hope you finally have found some peace Billy Benda my friend.