William Leonard Benson, Sr., 82, of Jena, passed from this life on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at his residence.
He was born August 28, 1934 in Clarks to the union of his parents, Elton Marion and Katie Lee Rietzell Benson.
Leonard was a truck driver for the LaSalle Parish Police Jury.
Services were held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, May 23, in the chapel of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home of Jena with the Revs. Jimmy Keene and Terry Doughty officiating.
Interment followed in the Pine Grove Cemetery of Rhinehart under direction of Hixson Brothers, Inc. of Jena.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Fred Marion Benson; and sister, Mary Jane Goodwin.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Peggy Thompson Benson of Jena; son, William L. “Bill” Benson, Jr. and wife Judy of Jena; daughters, Corliss Benson of Jena and Beverly Benson Young and husband Don of Jena; brother, Edward Benson of Jena; sister, Ruby Eason of Tallulah; grandchildren, Kara Benson Callender, Jeffery Benson, Christina Young Schoenhofen and Jennifer Young Dalton; great-grandchildren, Addison Callender, Mackenzie Schoenhofen, Leo Schoenhofen, Tanner Schoenhofen, Myca Schoenhofen, Annsley Dalton, Cameron Dalton and Jordan Dalton.
Pallbearers were Jeffery Benson, Carlos Crooks, Jeffrey Callender, Larry Norris, Jamie Ogden and Dale Roark.
Honorary pallbearers were Scott McLendon, Ronnie McLendon, Will Roark and Curt Dalton.