Dorothy Lee Benner

Dorothy Lee (Brown) Benner passed away at the age of 92 on May 4, 2026. Dorothy was born in a house on Sunset Drive in Bellingham on September 6, 1933, to Frank and Ethel Brown. She was the youngest of 10 children. Dorothy was quite the tomboy growing up on East Victor Street. She loved to climb trees and wear military uniforms gifted by her older brothers. She graduated from Bellingham High School in 1951. After graduating she worked at Sears in downtown Bellingham in the payroll department. Dorothy married the boy who lived across the street, Gordon Benner, on July 31, 1954. They purchased a home on Cedarwood Ave, which they owned for 69 years. Dorothy and Gordon raised four children in the house on Cedarwood.

Dorothy was a very talented secretary and bookkeeper and worked part time for Allstate and then Birchwood Presbyterian church. She was also very active in PTA at Birchwood Elementary and Shuksan Middle School, being awarded the Golden Acorn award twice. She also volunteered with Camp Fire, The BHS Class of 1951 reunion committee, The USS O’Bannon Reunion organization and the Bellingham Police Wives association. Dorothy was also a member at Birchwood Presbyterian church and in retirement volunteered there for many years.

Gordon and Dorothy loved to go camping and their grandchildren have wonderful memories of camping adventures including 30 years of Labor Day camping at Newhalem Creek campground. They also traveled all over the US attending O’Bannon reunions. Dorothy also made many friends as a Mall Walker at Bellis Fair.

Dorothy deeply loved her family and friends. She excelled at being a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was known as having the “Hallmark gene”, as she was so on top of sending cards to family and friends. Dorothy loved to visit with neighbors and friends, and her children remember begging her not to talk to so many people in the neighborhood Albertsons.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; all her siblings: Leona, Alice, Frank, Del, Alvin, Malcom, Owen, Bob and Gloria.

She is survived by her husband of 71 years, Gordon, and her children: Curtis (Mary) Benner of Kent, Robin (Mark) Maass of Lynnwood, Allyson (Gordon) Vlas of Ferndale, and Kim (Adam) Carter of Everson. Her grandchildren: Whitney (Eben) Dygert, Matt (Juliet) Kennedy, Kelsey (Sid) Khound, Josh (Melissa) Benner, Aimee Jiang, Tim Maass, Elizabeth Benner, Christine Benner, Tanner Tutterrow, Taran Tutterrow, Aaron Carter, and Casey Carter plus 3 great grandchildren; Jensen Benner, and Niva and Thea Khound – with a fourth due on her birthday.

Our family would like to thank the staff at Orchard Park Assisted Living for their wonderful, loving care for almost 4 years. Plus, Home Instead and Hospice of Whatcom County.

A memorial service will be held at Cordata Presbyterian Church (formerly Birchwood), 400 Meadowbrook Court, Bellingham, on Friday, June 12 at 11am. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Cordata Presbyterian Church or Hospice of Whatcom County.