1932-2025
Delbert (Tobe) Gene Benton, son of Clarence (Rich) and Opal (Sheeder) Benton, was born on the family farm in Guthrie County on Jan. 7, 1932. He passed away peacefully on March 13, 2025, at the Guthrie County Hospital surrounded by his loving family. He spent his early life in Grant Township attending country school. Tobe graduated from Guthrie Center High School in 1950. Following graduation, he worked as a farm hand for various farmers in the area until he enlisted in the United States Army Reserve on Dec. 9, 1952. Before he headed overseas to Korea, he married his soul mate and the love of his life, Ruth Cannon, on June 23, 1953, at the Christian Church in Perry. They were blessed with nearly 72 years of married life together.
Tobe was so very proud of the years he spent serving our country. While in Korea, he worked in the motor pool, and following his discharge, he was awarded the Korean Service Medal, the Bronze Service Star, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation and Good Conduct Medal during his time in the service. Always a humble man, he felt great pride whenever someone would thank him for his service, and he took great pleasure in riding on the American Legion float in the Guthrie County Fair Parade each year.
He spent his life dedicated to farming the land. Farming was not just a job but a way of life that he cherished. For many years, he raised hogs, cattle and row crops. During the 1970s and 1980s, he and Ruth had a dog kennel in which they raised purebred Pomeranians, Maltese, West Highland White Terriers, and Old English Sheepdogs. Dogs were truly a passion for Tobe. Until just a few years ago, you would always see him with a trusted companion riding beside him on his four-wheeler or in the back of his pickup as he checked cows. His commitment to his community was very important to him. He served as a director on the Guthrie County Beef Producers and the Farm Service Administration. Tobe always enjoyed working with kids, and while his children were in school, he served as a 4-H Leader and was recognized as an Honorary Chapter Farmer by the Guthrie Center FFA. He was instrumental in organizing the Guthrie Center Booster Club and helped raise funds for the first weight room at Guthrie Center Schools. He loved watching his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren participate in school activities. Many good times were spent enjoying wrestling tournaments, football and baseball games, band and vocal concerts, and school plays. He took great delight in spending many hours at the pond dropping a line with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It was always a contest to see who could snag the biggest fish.
Although Tobe worked hard, he always made time to enjoy the good things in life with his family and friends. He and Ruth belonged to a card club that met monthly for more than 50 years. Pitch was the game of choice whenever family members would get together, and he smiled with pride when his grandchildren learned how to “shoot the moon!” He and Ruth spent several years vacationing in Minnesota with their neighborhood group. Numerous neighbor kids found amusement in visiting the Bentons so they could ride the bag swing Tobe had assembled in the old cottonwood tree in the corner of their yard. He loved going to the county fair and spending time looking at the exhibits or just stopping to catch up with old friends. You could always find him and Ruth at their same spot in front of the former Guthrie County Bank building enjoying the fair parade. Tobe was a member of Bowman Chapel United Methodist Church where he shared a pew with the same people and looked forward to fellowship with his church family following worship each Sunday.
Tobe was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Opal Benton; his step-mother, Adah Parish Benton; brother, Max Benton and wife, Jean; his sister, Bea Millhollin and husband Bob; his in-laws, Frank and Minnie Cannon; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Roger and Lois Wickland; and his nephew, Pat Benton. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Ruth; children, Julie (Doug) Rutherford, Scott (Karen) Benton, and John Ely who summered with them for nine years; four grandchildren, Brody (Michelle) Benton, Bethany (Nicholas) McCool, Ian (Claire) Rutherford, and Alec (friend, Sara Freimuth) Rutherford; and his great-grandchildren, Ethan, Norah, Levi and Jace Benton, and Casen, Crayton and Coy McCool, as well as many other family and friends.
Tobe will be greatly missed, but his memory will live on in all those who knew and loved him.