Timothy Andrew Benson, 87, of Portage, WI and formerly Galena, IL passed away Sunday, November 6, 2016 in Portage. A private family service will be held at a later date. He was born August 11, 1929 in Galena, the son of Tom and Augusta (Grady) Benson. Tim was the fifth of six children and attended St. Michael’s School and graduated from Galena High School in 1947. He spent four years in the Navy and was the Honor Man of his boot camp company in San Diego, CA. He was a dental technician and his service included one year on Guam before returning to Galena. Tim then attended the University of Dubuque for two years on a football scholarship before being admitted to the Marquette University Dental School. He graduated with his D.D.S. in 1958 and practiced dentistry in Illinois and Wisconsin for forty-six years, before retiring in 2004. During his dental practice in Sterling, IL, Tim served in all offices and was the president of the Whiteside-Lee County Dental Society. Tim also served as an elected member of the Woodlawn Elementary School Board and in all chairs of the Sterling B.P.O. Elks Lodge #1218 and was Exalted Ruler two times. As a member of the Cascade Mountain Ski Patrol for sixteen years, He received many awards and was inducted into Cascade’s Hall of Fame in 1989. Tim enjoyed fishing, golfing and downhill skiing. He was a fan of football and basketball and following the exploits of his seven children and twelve grandchildren. He is survived by his daughters, Pamela of New Mexico, Nancy Benson Peterson (Jeff) of LeClaire, IA, Heather Edison Wolf of Atlanta, GA; sons, Tom (Janice Peterson) of Portage, WI, Troy (Betty) of Lake Forest, CA, Tim (Dana) of St. John’s, FL and Bret (Jennifer Tasaga-Benson) of Dubai, UAE; twelve grandchildren, Erik Peterson (Erin Gough) of Stanford, CA, Tim Benson of Deforest, WI, Taylor Benson of Madison, WI, Tor Peterson of Chicago, IL, Connor, Liam and Evan Benson of Lake Forest, CA, Emily, Ryan and Kyle Benson of St. John’s, FL and step-grandchildren, Greta and Britta McKinnon of Portage, WI and a brother, Dan (Virginia) of Bella Vista, AK.  He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Bill, Tom and Ralph, and a sister Pauline.