Page 67 - PGM Compendium

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Of
M⸫W⸫ Milton R. Benson: 1994-1995

Most Worshipful Grand Master Milton Ray Benson was born
August 31, 1926, in Seattle. In 1933, his family moved to
Tacoma where he attended school until 1944, when his family
moved to Bremerton. He graduated from Bremerton High
School and enlisted in the Navy but a childhood ear infection
had left with a punctured eardrum from the then current
treatment for mastoiditis and the Navy turned him down. He
thereupon enlisted in the United States Merchant Marine and
sailed the North Pacific and Alaska waters for the next three
years, serving as a radio operator.

When his tour of duty in the Merchant Marine ended. Brother
Benson returned to the Kitsap Peninsula area where he attended
Olympic College in Bremerton before transferring to the
University of Washington, He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1951.
The young engineer was hired by Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company and spent the next three years
working in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In J 954, he returned to the Pacific Northwest and began a career with
the Boeing Aircraft Company which lasted thirty-three years. Following his retirement from Boeing in
1989, he founded a successful engineering consulting firm.

In 1946, Brother Benson met Lyla Carlson and they were married in August of 1947. Milton and Lyla
Benson became the parents for three girls and two boys. The family was always involved with Masonry.

Most Worshipful Brother Benson became a Master Mason on June 7, 1962, in Ark Lodge, No, 126, and
served as its Worshipful Master in 1971. He received his first Grand Lodge appointment in 1972 as Senior
Grand Steward and has served as a Grand Lodge officer, Deputy of the Grand Master, or Committeeman
for the next eighteen years. His service included one year each as Grand Lecturer and Grand Historian
and two years as Deputy of the Grand Master in District No. 6.

Testimony to Most Worshipful Brother Benson's Masonic accomplishments were the numerous
responsibilities he took on and the honors the Grand Lodge and Concordant Bodies have showered upon
him. He became a Royal Arch Mason in Amity Chapter, No. 53, on March 23, 1972. He served as High
Priest of that Chapter in 1976. Thereafter he held a number of appointive offices in Grand Chapter of
Royal Arch Masons of Washington including that of District Deputy for the Grand High Priest. He served
as the Most Excellent High Priest of Royal Arch Masons of Washington in 1985-86. He was also a Past
Illustrious Master of Seattle Council No. 6, Royal and Select Masters of Washington, Past Eminent
Commander of Rainier Commandery No. 28, Knight Templar of Washington; Past Sovereign Master,
Chinook Council No. 77, Allied Masonic Degrees; Past Father Noah, Puget Sound Lodge No 5, Royal
Ark Mariners; Past Governor, Rainier College No. 54, Sovereign York Rite College of North America;

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