Sterling Bennett, Jr

Biography

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, Sterling John Bennett, Jr. passed away at home in North Salt Lake, Utah on July 15, 2012, after a long battle with a progressive, debilitating illness. His courage and determination were inspirational until the end. “Jack” was born in Provo, Utah on August 10, 1928 to Sterling John Bennett, Sr. and Amanda Marie Gleason Bennett. After returning to BYU following an LDS mission in the Netherlands, he met the prettiest girl on campus, Marilyn Jensen, on a blind date. They were married in the Logan LDS Temple on April 3, 1952. Their marital bliss was interrupted by the Korean War, where Jack served in the US Army and received special recognition from the South Korean government for developing a chemical process that facilitated the rapid deployment of aircraft runways. Following the war, he graduated from BYU with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry. Later, he obtained a PhD in materials science and engineering from the University of Utah. Jack and Marilyn lived briefly in Henderson, Nevada, and then settled with their growing family in Brigham City, Utah, where Jack was employed for 38 years at Thiokol. He loved his work in solid rocket fuel and adhesives, which resulted in numerous patents and publications, but his greatest love was his family. After retirement, in order to be closer to family, Jack and Marilyn moved to North Salt Lake where Jack was a fixture at his children’s and grandchildren’s school programs, recitals and sporting activities and religious events, even when his failing health made attending difficult.
Jack was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His love for the Lord was evident in everything he did and has left a lasting impression on his posterity.
Jack is survived by his wife of 60 years, Marilyn Bennett; his four children and their spouses: Debbie (Bennett) and Don Perry, Sterling and Elizabeth (ZoBell) Bennett, Lynden and Marta (Nickolaisen) Bennett, and Kendel and Juli (Tate) Bennett; 20 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and older sister, Beth Willardson.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon, Thursday, July 19, 2012 at Russon Brothers Bountiful Mortuary, 295 North Main, where a viewing will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Bountiful City Cemetery. For those who wish to make a donation in lieu of flowers, please consider the Boy Scouts of America or the LDS Church’s Perpetual Education Fund.

Funeral Service

Thursday July 19, 2012, 12:00 at Russon Brothers Bountiful Mortuary
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Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon, Thursday, July 19, 2012 at Russon Brothers Bountiful Mortuary, 295 North Main, where a viewing will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Bountiful City Cemetery. For those who wish to make a donation in lieu of flowers, please consider the Boy Scouts of America or the LDS Church’s Perpetual Education Fund.