Milo E. Benson, 81, died at Whidbey General Hospital, Coupeville, on June 4, 2011. He was born Jan. 21, 1930, in Raleigh, N.D., to Hary L. and Anna M. Benson. Milo moved with his family at age seven to Modesto, Calif. He graduated from high school in Modesto and then enlisted in the US Navy.

For 15 years, Milo served as an Explosive Ordnance Demolition enlisted petty officer, working his way from seaman to chief petty officer. In 1958, Milo was married to Jean “Jo” Winters and immediately accepted her and her children as his own family. After 15 years of service, he was commissioned as an ensign. His duty stations took him to both coasts and to sea, where he specialized in explosive ordnance and nuclear weapons disposal. He retired as a lieutenant commander in 1978 with 30 years of service.

Milo’s final duty station was Whidbey Island Naval Air Station where he was the NAS Security officer and was also officer-in-charge of the Naval Sea Cadets aboard the air station.

Milo enjoyed deer hunting and fishing. He once caught a 43-pound salmon, near Deception Pass, which now hangs on the wall of his family room. He loved working in his roses until his back injury last year.

Milo owned five motor homes after his retirement and each year, he and Jo would take a trip around the U.S. They traveled the back roads to guarantee they would not miss any of the sights of “real America.” In 1995, Jo wanted to move to the East Coast to be closer to her family, so they sold their home and moved to Maryland. Jo developed severe dementia and in 1998, Milo moved them back to Oak Harbor, where he established an adult family care facility to care for her. Jo passed away in 2003. Milo sought out a longtime friend and on Sept. 11, 2004, Milo and Lois were married at the Oak Harbor First United Methodist Church.

Milo was a longtime member of the Oak Harbor Elks Lodge 2362 of Oak Harbor and a life member of the North Whidbey Sportsman Club, of which he was president twice. Until last year, he had sponsored a salmon barbecue for the life members of the club for the past 10 years. He was also a member of the Whidbey Island Good Sam RV Club, a longtime member of the Oak Harbor First United Methodist Church and the Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Association.

Milo was a loving husband, father, stepfather and grandfather.

He is survived by his wife Lois (McPherson) Benson of Oak Harbor; daughters, Sally Ann Reagan and husband Al of McCalister, Okla., and Joie Gates of Hellertown, Penn.; brother, Ervin Benson of Crescent City, Calif.; stepsons, Joe Alvey of Waldorf, Md. and Doug Alvey and wife Adele of New Burn, N.C.; step-daughter, Dana McPherson of Anacortes; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Jean J. “Jo” Benson; one grandson, Austin Harper Gates Benson, who died in Afghanistan this past year; and brothers Ray, Vern and Lloyd Benson and sister Esther (Bob) Little.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Wallin Funeral Home in Oak Harbor on Sunday, June 12, at 2 p.m. with Gary Wallin, Life Celebrant. Burial with full military honors will follow at Maple Leaf Cemetery with a reception at the Oak Harbor Elks Lodge immediately following. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.wallinfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation. LLC.