Warren Marsh Benson passed away peacefully on March 26, 2022, at Poudre Valley Hospital.
Warren was born June 19, 1935, in Ansley, Nebraska to Charles and Irma Benson. When he was six months old, the family moved to Laramie and knew they had found home. Never afraid of hard work, Warren began earning an income at the age of ten with a paper route. In his older years, he would recall stories from his paper route, particularly going to the local house of ill repute to deliver the paper or collect the weekly fee. At 12, he got a job at the local dairy, washing out milk cans and milk bottles, using his wages to treat his siblings.
Warren loved sports and found a way to sneak not only himself but his brothers into the University of Wyoming home football games. He was a four-sport letter winner (football, basketball, wrestling and track) at Laramie High School, voted Outstanding Player for the 1953 LHS football team and was selected to the Wyoming All State First Team. The University of Wyoming recruited him to play football, where he played “iron man” football, playing the center position on offense, linebacker on defense, and was the long snapper. In 1957, Warren was recognized for his “top academic rating,” was selected as 1 of 30 to represent the University of Wyoming in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities, selected First Team International News Service All Rockies football team and voted by his teammates to receive the JJ Humphrey Most Valuable Player award. The Baltimore Colts and the Green Bay Packers both expressed an interest in Warren, who had spent his summers attending officer training at the Marine Corps school in Quantico, VA and expected to join the Marines as a Second Lieutenant upon graduation. However, a skiing accident that winter required replacing his fibula with a plate, and an eleven-month convalescence ended his football and Marine Corps careers.
Warren married his college sweetheart JoAnn (nee McGill) in 1957. Upon graduation, he began working for the University of Wyoming, starting with the College of Agriculture and ending in 1990 as the Business Manager for the Athletic Department. An avid golfer, Warren spent the first two years of retirement working as the Course Ranger at Jacoby Golf Course. Warren and his bride JoAnn bought the Home Ranch in 1994 and became full-time ranchers raising registered Angus cattle.
In 2012, he was named as 1 of the 99 All-Time UW Football Players by WyoSports. In 2018, the Wyoming branch of the National High School Sports honored Warren as Wyoming’s Number One Fan. He had only missed two UW home football games since 1953, not counting all the games he had snuck into as a child.
Warren was a quiet man who lived by the quote, “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” Although he loved sports, especially football, his first love was for his family. In the past few years, CTE had stolen many of his memories, yet his eyes would still light up and he would grin whenever they were near.
Warren is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Gary Benson. He is survived by his bride of 64 years, JoAnn (nee McGill); his siblings, Bonnie (Jim) Ross and Joe (Lynn) Benson; children, Geoffrey (Jenny) Murrish, Ann (Alan) Palomba and Joe (Kirk) Benson; grandchildren, Shane (Jillian) Murrish, Scott (Esther Lee) Murrish, Lauren (Leo) Yan, Shanna (Jason) Bellman and Jamie (Adam) Cobb; great-grandchildren, Madysen, Brooks, Bode Bellman and Margaux Murrish; and several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
To celebrate a “life well lived” an open house wake for Warren will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2022 from 1-4 p.m at the Laramie Elks Club.
The family requests in lieu of flowers donations be made in Warren’s name to Hospice of Laramie or the Cowboy Joe Club.
JoAnn and ALL of that wild, wonderful family of yours!! You know how we love you all and we will pray for each of you and grieve with you and we are here for you and we will laugh again and we will miss that wonderful man of yours!!! And we will remember...
Dear JoAnn and family: We were very saddened to hear of Warren’s passing. He was always friendly and when we were lucky enough to cross paths with him in Laramie, we were always greeted wih a smile and a big “Hello.” Warren excelled at life and family. He was someone who you could look up to……………..his hard work and many achievements were rare. He has left a life history to be very proud of. Our sincere condolences……. Judy and Lee Larson
Ann, My heart goes out to you for the loss of your father I hope your happy memories will help you through this difficult time.
Sorry for your loss, JoAnn and Family. Warren was a good man.
JoAnn, Family, Lynn and Joe, Mike; so sorry for your loss. Warnie was one of my favorite Laramie men. Playing sports. working with him at Univ. of Wyoming, loseing to him for the BM at Athletic Dept I wasn't sorry because it was to Warnie he was the better man for the job. I can not remember a time when we would meet that he did not have a greeting and a smile. What a man. God Bless all of you. Donna and Gordon Thorne
Please accept my condolences and I extend my deepest sympathies to the Benson family
To one super cowboy fan.. we will miss you! Our thought go out to JoAnn and the entire family.. lee and Gene Wilson
What an amazing history! I'm so sorry for your loss.
Warren was such a dynamic man, who touched so many lives. All our love, thoughts, and prayers to JoAnn & Family.
What a great man! Our family just lost two wonderful men. My deepest sympathy.
My deepest condolences JoAnn and family. We were saddened to hear of Warren’s passing. Prayers be with you all. Cheryl and Bruce Culver
JoAnn and Families, I am so very sorry for your loss. May God bless you.