Roger Alan Benson, 78, of Tunkhannock, died Monday at Hospice of the Sacred Heart, Dunmore. He and the former Barbara Lazarus were married for 50 years on May 28.

Born in Tunkhannock on May 12, 1938, son of the late Percy D. and Ada Lewis Benson, Roger was a 1956 graduate of the Tunkhannock High School and served in the Army from December of 1961 to December of 1963.

Roger was an operating engineer with Local 542 for 58 years and also taught in their apprentice program. He worked in the hiring hall for nine years and he could operate or repair any machinery that it had. Roger was a member of the Nicholson Lodge 438 and he was a member of the Scottish Rite, and the Irem Shrine.

Roger enjoyed riding motorcycles with the group that rode together and working on them. He loved being outdoors in the winter plowing snow with the 4×4 and mowing in the summer, and especially helping the neighbors who could use a hand with those chores. He enjoyed teaching his sons how to ride and how to work on the motorcycles.

Also surviving are his son, Todd R. Benson, Tunkhannock; sister, Mary Wootton; and several nieces and nephews.

He was also preceded in death by his son, Michael T. Benson, in 2002; and three brothers, George, Warren and Robert Benson.

Funeral service will be Friday at 1 p.m. from the Harding-Litwin Funeral Home, 123 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock. Interment will be held at a later date at the Sunnyside Cemetery.

Friends may call Thursday, 7 to 9 p.m., at the funeral home. For online condolences or directions, visit the funeral home website.
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