BURNETTE, Benjamin Fred

Bluemountaineagle.com 27 June 2012 Benjamin Fred Burnette, 73, died June 22 surrounded by family at his ranch on the Middle Fork of the John Day River. A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Friday, June 29, at St. Katherine’s Mission Church on Highway 395 at the Walton Ranch. Interment will be at the Kilbride Cemetery on the Burnette Ranch. A potluck reception will follow at St. Katherine’s Church. Mr. Burnette was born May 17, 1939, delivered by his grandmother Etta Mae Burnette at home in Ritter to Buster and Irene (Fedler) Burnette. He attended a one-room school in Ritter and then attended Long Creek High School, graduating in 1956 at age 16. He enjoyed all sports, and participated in baseball, boxing, rodeo and basketball. In his senior year he led the tri-county league in scoring. In rodeo, he successfully rode all 39 saddle broncs, but it was said that bareback riding was his best event. On June 9, 1957, he married his high school sweetheart, Jacqueline Carter, with whom he had two children, Ron and Rhonda. They worked to put together a cattle ranch, of which he was very proud. He loved and lived to ride. He broke many colts with a gentle hand, and loved his dogs, horses, and cattle. A cowboy from the ground up, he knew most of the country north of the Middle Fork like the back of his hand, spending countless days in the saddle. He was a school board member at Long Creek for 29 years, and ran the score clock for almost 40 years. He also coached Little League for four years. He loved all kids, especially his grandchildren. He was rarely seen without at least one of them. His family and ranch were his life. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Jacquline of Ritter; son, Ron (Jolene) Burnette of Ritter; daughter, Ronda (Rick) Henslee of Long Creek; grandchildren, Cade (Sally) Burnette of Imbler, Carrie (Mike) Somnis of Moro, and Travis Henslee and fiancé Jamie Westburg of Long Creek; brother Marvin (Lillian) Burnette of Kendrick, Idaho; sister, Vivian Morris of Ritter; great-grandchildren Faith, Jayce, and Carter Burnette and Nicole, Annaliese, and Clay Somnis; many nieces and nephews; his favorite horse, Mr C.; and his faithful dog, Bobby. He was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Merle Morris. Memorial contributions can be made to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd, John Day, OR, 97845.