Terri Benson

Terri Lynn Benson “T’Siyat” an enrolled member of Yakama Nation was born in Toppenish, WA on June 3, 1974. She is the eldest daughter of Kalea (Speedis) Benson and Raefield Benson Sr. Her Maternal Grandparents are the Late Esther Sohappy and Walter Speedis. Her Paternal grandparents are the late Bertha Williams and Tony Benson. Her great grandmother was the late Annie Miller. Terri was raised at The Circle Spear bar Ranch in Brownstown, Wa. Terri has been riding and rodeoing since before she could walk. Working cattle and horses along side her parents. Grew up traveling to numerous rodeos throughout the Northwest and Canada. In her early years roping, barrel racing and horse racing. When her elder thinks of her she always says, “she was a hardworking lady, who could outwork 2 or 3 men.” Everyone who knew “Nana” knew that to be true. Throughout her years she was an active member of various groups and associations. She was an active member of the Toppenish Creek Longhouse in White Swan, Wa. She gathered traditional foods and hunted. She was a volunteer for the Toppenish Pow-Wow/rodeo and the YIRA. She was the leader for the 4-H Kupnish Club for 15 years. Even when Terri was just out to have fun her hands never sat idle. Her second home was the mountains, of course near the river. During “vacation” in the mountains she would be hunting, camping, cooking, cutting wood and poles, hiking and making new trails all with ease and a smile on her face. Aside from outdoor adventures Terri was an excellent seamstress, basket weaver and bead worker. Throughout her life she has worked at many places that revolved around things she enjoyed. She was a Groundskeeper for the Fort Simcoe State park. She was head cook for Camp Chaparral, vet assistant for Dr. Dan Dahl at Yakima Meadows Racetrack. In her later years she worked for the YN Fisheries at the Glenwood, Leavenworth and Twisp Hatcheries as a Fish Technician II. She also worked as a shipping & receiving clerk for YN. Above all, her most cherished passion was always going above and beyond for all her children. Though she did not have any biological children she has brought life and light into over 40+ children she had raised. She had such a great impact on anyone that crossed her path; but her connection, love and compassion was always devoted to her babies, She put them above all. Instead of words she always led by example and took time to teach her babies what was passed down to her by her parents and grandmother Esther Speedis Terri was called home peacefully on June 26, 2020. Terri was survived by her mother Kalea, sisters; Annie Rae, Neville and Martel and her brother Raefield Benson Jr. Her babies; Raylee & Rori Benson, Kamarin, Kashius, Karder Gleason, Emery Benson Jr., Abilene Benson, Kaslou Benson-Johnley, Sioux Kassian Benson, Nevada and Timber Grant and numerous other nieces nephews an family members. She will be preceded with her father Raefield T. Benson Sr. and her brother Emery Shad Benson Sr. and all her other loved ones. Dressing will be at Benson Ranch on Monday June, 29, 2020 at 2pm with overnight services to follow. Burial will be Tuesday June 30, 2020 at Sunrise at the Wah-lai-la-kite Cemetery in Wiley City, Wa. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Terri Benson, please visit our flower store.