Glenford Harold Bensch

Glenford Harold Bensch was born on January 17, 1931 to Harry and Rosa (Louthan) Bensch on the farm near Chester, Oklahoma. The family attended Seiling Friends Church. He attended Lakeside School near his home then Seiling High School where he graduated Salutatorian in 1949. He excelled at all sports but especially loved Track and Field and won the Class B State Championship in discus in 1949. In all 12 years of school, he never missed a day.

 

In the fall of 1949, he attended Friends Bible College (now Barclay College) in Haviland, Kansas where he met Gracie Loesch of Booker, Texas. They were married at Viewpoint Friends Church near Booker, Texas on August 6, 1950.

 

Glenford and Gracie made their home on the farm in Logan, Oklahoma where they farmed, dairied, and raised five children. Glenford lived on the farm for 67 years until he finally had to move to an assisted living center in 2017.

 

Glenford and Gracie were diligent stewards of the land. They focused on controlling erosion and noxious weeds. They were awarded Beaver County Conservationist of the Year in 1986.

 

Glenford's great passion was dairying and breeding registered Holstein cows. He had a talent for choosing the right bull for each cow. Over his 35 years as a dairyman, he bred several generations of Holsteins, and at least 21 of his cows were classified as Excellent. He twice won the Progressive Breeder Award from the Holstein Friesian Association. He was a long time member of the Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA) and served as local treasurer for many years. In 1987, he sold the dairy herd and raised Angus beef cattle for many more years. 

 

Glenford and Gracie were always active in their church first at Booker Friends Church then at Midway Country Church. They gave generously to their local churches, to the Apostolic Faith Bible College, to home missions, and to foreign missions especially Haiti. 

 

Anyone who knew him understood Glenford to be a man of high Christian character. He never smoked or drank alcohol his whole life. He was kind and forgiving even to those who took advantage of him. Glenford was known for his strength as well as his gentle nature. He could outwork almost anyone. He had a wide range of interests and a sharp memory.

 

Glenford is preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife Gracie, and his only brother Wilford. 

 

Glenford is survived by his five children Randall and Joyce Bensch of Logan, Oklahoma; Glenda and Alvin Buschman of Seneca, Missouri; Lynden and Starley Bensch of Seiling, Oklahoma; Curtis and Michele Bensch of Guymon, Oklahoma; and Stuart Bensch of Blackwell, Oklahoma. He is survived by his grandchildren LaDonna, Paul, Jeanne, Cheryl, Keith, Denise, Michelle, and Caleb, and 15 great grandchildren as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews, and a host of dear friends.

 

Whether you knew him as Glenford, Dad, Grandpa, Great Grandpa, or Uncle Glen, we have lost our gentle giant. Mere words in an obituary can hardly convey our grief.

 

In leiu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Apostolic Faith Bible College.