Ken was born in a small Chicago suburb and lived in a charming house on a beautiful, tree- lined avenue in Maywood. His mother, Mabel, was the heart of the home. His dad, Lester, grew the most gorgeous roses in the garden, which he talked to every morning before taking the train to work in Chicago.

Ken’s map for happiness was based on balance, order, rhythm and harmony. Ken’s childhood was all of that, plus some mischief with his life long friend, Maurie. His other companions were his dogs, families from church and Uncle Oscar. Though his dad’s work sometimes took him away on extended trips, he returned with stories of adventures that extended Ken’s horizons. The family took trips together out West to explore those horizons. 

He was a brilliant student and soulful cornet player. His hobby of building airplane models would have seemed to indicate a singular focus on his future career as an aeronautical engineer, were it not for that far away look in his eyes....thinking of Doris Johnson.

Ken and Doris met in first grade in 1934 and became an item immediately. They were the love of one another’s lives, were welcomed readily into each other’s families and following Ken‘s graduation from University of Illinois with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering (and Doris’ from Butler University with a degree in Elementary Education), they married in 1951. Ken worked for Chicago Screw Co and Doris taught school...until the days continued to fill with love: Christine arrived in 1953 and Bruce in 1956. At this juncture, Ken found more satisfying work at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in Connecticut and the family moved to Manchester, joined in 1958 by Carol Louise and in 1962 by Karen. Now we could truly...

Ken and Doris loved their 5 decades in Manchester. Emanuel Lutheran Church served as a solid foundation and extended family for the Bensens. Ken sang and played cornet in the church choir and was a pillar in the church community in many capacities, including Church Council. They nurtured and were nurtured by an enriching circle of friends and the Bensen home was always open to family, friends and visitors of all nationalities and creeds. Ken and Doris did all the upkeep and maintenance work on their homes, so Ken’s workshop was always humming. He built furniture, storage, family rooms, play equipment, railroad landscapes, a historical dollhouse, more storage and a memorable canoe, that oddly enough for an engineer didn’t fit through the basement door. Music was ever present and an organ was added to the family. As his father before him, Ken was required to travel in his capacities with PWA, taking him to (39) countries and all but 3 of the continental US states. In spite of the travels and all of the above activities and his demanding profession, we children never had the feeling or experience that anything was more important to him than his family. He was there for us even in his physical absence, never a doubt in our hearts. He brought us the world when he returned and supported us using our wings. He was wholeheartedly involved in all aspects of our lives. His mantra might have changed a bit from balance, order, rhythm and harmony to serving the family, serving the community and serving God. This strengthened our character and that of those he touched.

In 2005, some years after retiring from Pratt and Whitney, Ken and Doris moved to Covenant Village of Colorado in Westminster, on the outskirts of Denver. Their lives were enriched once again by new and very dear friends and a supportive community. Hobbies and family from near and far brought joy for many years. Five grandchildren (Juliane, Caelen, Taylor, Livia and Anten) and 2, soon to be 3, great grandchildren (Charlotte, Alma and ?) expanded the circle of love.

Another word crept into the life script / mantra: forbearance.

Ken and Doris had both been blessed with very good health, which perhaps made reporting of physical symptoms challenging and the quantifying of pain difficult. Ken had to face anxieties, suffering and sorrow. He was stubborn in wanting to understand things he could not, but here his soul demanded patience, compassion and forbearance and the engineer had to defer to lessons in a new territory. For many years he continued to put his wife and family’s wellbeing in a place of priority and watched over us until his very last day.  

We are so very grateful to have been blessed with Kenneth Glenn Bensen as our husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather! We proudly call him our own, but he was lent to us in kinship by God. Now his Light is fully in God’s Infinite Love. And the spark of that lives on in each of us.

Start the day with Love
Live the day with Love
Fill the day with Love
Spend the day with Love
End the day with Lovely
That is the way to God
(SSB)

In deep love and connection, always, 
Chris