Obituary for MICHAEL K. BENNETT

Bozeman Daily Chronicle (MT)  |  8 March 2001

Michael K. Bennett passed away on March 2, 2001, in Big Timber. He was born June 16, 1954, in Salt Lake City to William S. and Marilyn Pearson Bennett. He attended schools in Kaysville, Utah, and graduated from Davis High School in 1972 with high honors. Mike was an accomplished musician in high school and also ran cross-country track.

Mike joined the service two weeks after high school graduation and completed basic training in Fort Ord, Calif. He was sent to Germany for two years and completed missions to Vietnam as an Airborne Ranger. He was transferred to Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Wash., and served as a fire control officer and later as a drill sergeant. After serving his initial enlistment period, Mike reenlisted and received computer training at Fort Scott, Ill. He later was assigned to serve at the Pentagon. He was honorable discharged in 1979.

Upon discharge from the service, Mike worked for the National Education Association as a systems analyst. He later worked for MCI as a senior technical database administrator. In 1987, Mike co-founded Logical Software Solutions Corporation and served as lead architect of an internationally recognized software product. He sold the company in 1998 to Interling Software Corporation and continued work as the senior vice president of technology.

In 1972, Mike married Christine M. Omer in Kaysville, Utah. They had a son, Jeremy Michael, on March 30, 1976. Mike and Christine were later divorced.

On March 10, 1990, Mike married Mary F. Collier in Laurel, Md. Their new family included Mary's daughter, Megan Anne. Leland Collier Bennett was born to Mike and Mary on Nov. 29, 1994.

Mike enjoyed ranching and spending time working with the horses on his ranch in Big Timber. He enjoyed many sports, including water and snow skiing, snorkeling and scuba diving. He enjoyed the outdoors and hunting. He loved animals, western movies and good music.

Mike is survived by his wife, Mary; two sons, Jeremy of Baltimore, Md., and Leland of Big Timber; daughter, Megan of Big Timber; his parents, William S. Bennett (Paulette) and Marilyn Bennett Nutter (William R.); brother, Blake W. Bennett (Julie) of Kaysville, Utah; and four nephews and two nieces.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents.

A memorial service for Mike was held March 6 in Big Timber at First Congregational Church. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 13, at Kaysville City Cemetery in Kaysville, Utah.

Lowry Funeral Home in Big Timber arranged the services.

Copyright (c) 2001 Bozeman Daily Chronicle