Obituaries
• Tracy Benware, 60, of West Tisbury, Massachusetts, and Westminster. Died unexpectedly, surrounded with the love of his family, on Sept. 1, 2024. Tracy was born in Bellows Falls to Ted and Muriel Benware on Oct. 25, 1963. He grew up in Westminster West with his sister Brenda and two younger brothers, Randy and Russell. Tracy was blessed with his son Colt. He was extremely proud of him. They enjoyed many adventures hunting, fishing and working on numerous projects together. Tracy was happiest when he was outside enjoying what the land and sea had to offer, always sharing his bounty with family and friends. All who knew him will feel a large void in their lives with his passing. Memorial information: A gathering will be held on Sunday, Nov. 17, at 1 p.m. at Hit or Miss in Rockingham. All are welcome to share stories and remember Tracy. A dish to share is welcomed.
• David Paul DeSmit, 83, of Putney. Died peacefully, with loving friends by his side, at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital on Sept. 7, 2024, after an extended period of declining health. He was born on May 16, 1941, in Rochester, New York, to Raymond Warren DeSmit and Edith Virginia (Buell) DeSmit. He obtained a B.A. in art history and English literature from Oberlin (Ohio) College, and a master's degree in landscape architecture from Harvard University. From an early age, David became a student of life and possibilities. He was a curious lifelong learner and an avid reader, always searching for knowledge and new points of view. It was a pleasure going to art exhibits with him. His knowledge and insights offered "new eyes" to view many forms of art - large and small. His love for nature was expressed in writings, photography, and in working the soil to produce a bountiful harvest. He proudly designed gardens and landscapes. He also generously advised friends to select beautiful plantings and garden designs. He planted and cared for organic vegetable gardens in Woburn and Lexington, Massachusetts, and then extended the life of the harvest with canning, dehydrating, and freezing. He derived immense joy from cooking for others and made delicious, unforgettable meals and saved the day with the perfect last touch to a dish prepared by someone else. Deeply distressed by the effects of climate change on the planet and its peoples, and by the misuse of natural resources, he raised awareness of the urgent need for change through eloquent, passionate writings and participation in advocacy efforts to advance practical scalable solutions such as increased biodiversity and carbon farming. Life took him to many places through good and trying times. He met along the way many friends whose relationships he cherished. He was a compassionate listener and always had a soothing word for a friend in distress. In the last years of his life, he shared a deep love with his wife, Diana, and devoted himself to caring for her. She predeceased him just weeks before his death. David leaves his son, Will DeSmit; his brother, Pieter and sister-in-law, Phyllis DeSmit; niece Dori McFarland, nephew Doug DeSmit, and many friends. His friendship, generous knowledge, and wit will be missed by many dear friends in New England and North Carolina. Memorial information: A virtual gathering of friends and family will be scheduled this fall. In the meantime, David's family welcomes you to remember him with a planting, creation of art work, or donation to an organization or cause important to you. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Herta Julia (Zefting) Geidel, 100, of Brattleboro. Died peacefully in her sleep in Bayada Hospice at Bradley House on Oct. 15, 2024, just a few weeks shy of her 101st birthday, following kidney failure after her second bout of Covid. She is survived by her two sons, Carl and Rich; her grandchildren Stacy, Jodi, Melissa, Molly, Janie, Laura, and Teagan; and their families, all of whom she loved to pieces. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, in December 1923, Herta grew up in a Danish-speaking household that attended a Danish Lutheran Church in West Hartford. Recent immigrants to the U.S. are far from the first to try to hold onto some of their language and culture. She grew up poor in the Great Depression while her mother cleaned houses and her father walked miles to earn a dollar to put food on the table in the days before Social Security and unemployment compensation. She graduated from the old Hall High School and went to work as the sole bookkeeper for the West Hartford Board of Education. She worked there for 10 years before she was fired for taking three days off upon the death of her newborn child. Then she helped her dad the builder with the construction of the house that would be her home with her husband Phil for the next 65 years. Herta thoroughly enjoyed the yearly family camping vacations with her kids traveling north through the White Mountains, Acadia, and then into the Canadian Provinces of Quebec, Ontario, and New Brunswick. She enjoyed gardening and every year canned many quarts of tomatoes and pickles, applesauce and beans. In her later years, she loved traveling on the group tours that took her around the world. Herta was always grateful to have ended up at Holton Home and then Bradley House in Brattleboro for her last eight years. She appreciated the company of the other residents and the staff, the musical performances by local artists, and listening to thousands of digital audiobooks. She will be missed for her positive and loving personality. Memorial information: A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 2 p.m. at Bradley House, 65 Harris Ave., Brattleboro.
• Raymond S. "Ray" Porter, 81, of Brattleboro. Died unexpectedly at his home on Oct. 19, 2024, following a period of declining health. Ray was born in Keene, New Hampshire, on April 3, 1943, the son of Henry and Doris (Suleski) Porter Sr. He was raised and educated in Winchester, New Hampshire, and attended Pioneer Regional High School in Northfield, Massachusetts. Following high school, Ray served two years in the New Hampshire Army National Guard. For 30 years, he drove for BDR Transportation and Trucking and later established his own independent trucking company. On October 21, 2008 in Looc Mandaue, Philippines he was married to Nanette Parawan, who survives. In March 2011, with his wife, he established Raynette's Diner on Main Street in Hinsdale, New Hampshire. The couple faithfully operated the diner until October 2022 when the business was sold. With his wife, Ray attended St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro. He enjoyed travel, especially to the Philippines, as well as gardening and hiking. Besides his faithful and devoted wife of 16 years, he leaves four children, Jeffrey Porter of Hinsdale, Randy Porter of Florida, Renee McOwen of Brattleboro, and Jody Weller, also of Florida; two brothers, Henry of Winchester and Clifford of Swanzey, New Hampshire; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Ray was predeceased by brothers David, William, and Harold; and sisters Lorraine Brayton and Catherine Mecheski. Memorial information: A funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Michael's Catholic Church on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 11 a.m. Donations to St. Michael's Catholic Church, 47 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Walter Francis Stephens, 90, of Hinsdale, New Hampshire. died unexpectedly at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, on Oct. 16, 2024. Walter was a quiet, kind, humble, sincere, and devoted family man who was known for his dry sense of humor, patriotism, strong work ethic, love of his hometown, and his immense sweet tooth. Walter was born at home on High Street in Hinsdale on Aug. 30, 1934, to Harold and Hortense (Brooks) Stephens. Walter was the fourth of seven children. He attended Hinsdale schools and graduated from Hinsdale High School with the Class of 1953. He married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Bolden, on Oct. 2, 1954. They were a loyal and faithful couple for over 70 years. They made their home in Hinsdale where they raised their daughters, Julie Stephens Stoughton of Vernon and Lisa Stephens of Boston. Walter loved his girls unconditionally. His grandson, Gregory Stoughton of Cornish, New Hampshire, along with great-grandchildren Lucas and Katelyn, brought him so much love, joy, and laughter. As a boy, Walt mowed lawns, shoveled snow, participated in the Civil Air Patrol, and had a paper route. While in high school, he was an outstanding athlete in soccer, basketball and baseball and worked part-time at the Valley Food Store. After high school, in addition to working at his hometown store, he began working at Crosby Milling in Brattleboro and joined their industrial softball team as a catcher. Later, he was employed at American Stratford, then moved to the Book Press, where he worked for 26 years, never missing a day of work before retiring. Walter loved his hometown. He was a volunteer member of the Hinsdale Fire Department, attended school sporting events and, after retirement, worked with the town cemetery crew. He was one of the oldest members of the BPOE #1499 Elks Lodge. He enjoyed rooting for the Red Sox, Patriots and the UConn women's basketball team, watching war movies and westerns, hunting and fishing in his younger years, singing around the piano, going to parades, playing lottery tickets, travel tours, coin collecting, listening to people's stories and, in his later years, sitting with his wife in the evenings while watching the news. Walt took pride in his home, building stone walls, flower beds, and single-handedly constructing an additional room, porch and deck for his family to enjoy. Walt had a deep faith in God, was a devout Catholic and a communicant of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hinsdale. Besides his immediate family, Walter is survived by his brother, Russell and his wife, Doris, of Brattleboro, as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by brothers Harold, Jr., Robert, and Winfield; and sisters Betty and Shirley. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on Oct. 25 at St. Joseph Church (Mary Queen of Peace Parish) in Hinsdale, followed by burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations to the Hinsdale Fireman's Association, P.O. Box 13, Hinsdale, NH 03451 or Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
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