Dr. Don Weiler Bennion

Dr. Don Weiler Bennion passed away peacefully on June 3, 2015 at the age of 96.  He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on April 11, 1919 to Vera Weiler and Heber Bennion, Jr.   His father started out as a school teacher and principal in SL, but decided he wanted to be a rancher instead, so he homesteaded a piece of land out by Manila, Utah, and started a sheep ranch. Weiler's mother wanted her children to attend schools in Salt Lake, so she and her four children spent the Winters in Salt Lake and Summers at the Ranch.  There was no electricity there at that time.  There was always work to be done such as milking the cows, feeding the chickens and lambs, and chopping firewood.  At a young age, Weiler, being the only son among three sisters, would often spend 3-4 days at a time herding sheep in the mountains by himself. He would say all he needed was a good sheep tent, good food, a good book and a good gun. He loved riding horses, hunting and fishing. He often said it was the perfect place for a boy to grow up.

Weiler graduated from East High School.  When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and World War II started, Weiler joined the Army Air Corp. He absolutely loved flying, but because of asthma he was forced to stop. He then joined the U.S. Marines and was sent to the Marine Corps school at Quantico, VA. Later the marines were sent by train to Camp Pendleton, California, where he attained the rank of Captain and earned the expert rating for pistol and rifle.  They then boarded a ship as part of the 5th Marine division and were sent across the Pacific to attack the Japanese island of Iwo Jima.  When the Japanese were defeated, Weiler was one of the last survivors who witnessed the famous raising of the American Flag on Iwo Jima.

After graduating from the University of Utah in Business, he went on to dental school in San Francisco. He practiced dentistry in the East Millcreek area for about 50 years. He was loved by his patients. He often did the patients' dental work with no charge when the patient had difficulty paying.  He met his wife, Helen Elaine Weilenmann, when she came into his dental office as a patient. He said when he saw how much gold she had in her teeth, he knew he had to marry her.   They were married on September 3, 1952 in the Salt Lake Temple.  They had four children; Marie, Paula, Heber and Ashley.  He loved and adored his family.

After Weiler retired, he volunteered at the Veterans Hospital and at the S.L. County Aging Dept. where he served thousands of hours.  On April 12, 2011, he was honored by Mayor Corroon for his volunteer service. He also participated in many volunteer projects organized by his relative, Lowell Bennion.  He stopped volunteering at the age of 92.   Weiler was a life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Weiler is survived by his wife, Elaine; children, Marie (Chris) West, Paula May, Heber (Peri) Bennion; sister Peggy Papp (New York);  six grandchildren and spouses,  Justin (April), Nicholas (Esther), Jessica (Geoff), Cameron (Liz), Karen (Jason), Brad; 20 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by parents; son, Ashley; sisters, Barbalyn Curry, Virginia Buchanan; great-grandson, Ben.

Funeral services will be held Monday, June 8, 2015 at 11:00am at the Neffs Canyon Ward, 4176 South Adonis Drive (3950 E.). Friends and family are invited to visit Sunday evening 6:00-8:00pm at the Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 South 2300 East, and at the church Monday morning 9:30-10:30am prior to the service. Interment at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.  Guestbook to post messages for the family available at: www.HolbrookMortuary.com.   The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the staff at Sunrise Senior Living for their loving and tender care they provided Weiler, and a very special thank you to his doctors, Dr. Ben Wilson and Dr. Angel Kirkham.