Benny Maag

July 2, 1924 - January 28, 2010

Benny Maag

July 2, 1924 - Jan. 28, 2010

Vale

Benny Maag, 85, died at home with family at his side, on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010. A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Vale Christian Church, followed with a dinner welcome to all.

Benny was born July 2, 1924, in Buhl, Idaho, to Swiss immigrant parents, Emil Maag Sr. and Anna Marie Ernst Maag. Benny’s mother died when he was 4, leaving him and eight siblings, all but one 12 and younger, to grow up sharing the home and farm chores. Times were meager, but stories made it apparent Benny’s family always managed to have fun. One particular year, Benny sacrificed going to the fair so he instead could buy himself a football.

In 1938, Emil Maag Sr. bought 160 acres in Jamieson, Ore., where Benny and his brothers, Emil and Warner, farmed and lived in a tar paper shack. Benny enjoyed sports, particularly boxing at V.U.H.S. and in the Army. He graduated from V.U.H.S. in 1942, and attended O.S.U. before joining the Army in 1945. He served in Okinawa and Korea, although W.W.II. ended while he was on the ship heading overseas. He was discharged as a Master Sergeant in 1946.

Benny briefly attended Eastern Oregon College before returning to Vale and building a house with his father to sell. Benny and his dad built Warner and Mary K’s first house and Benny debated whether to be a carpenter or farmer, ultimately choosing the latter.

Benny met Wanda Thompson at a Hope dance, and they married in 1951. He and his dad built their first house on 12th Avenue East, where they farmed, raised a family and built their lives. They enjoyed square dancing, camping, drives, picnics, traveling with friends, adventures in Alaska and playing cards. Benny especially enjoyed following his family’s county fair livestock projects.

Benny served his community through 4-H, Farm Bureau, the Vale Oregon Irrigation District, O.S.U. Experiment Station, V.U.H.S. board, American Legion and Vale United Methodist Church. In 1958, he was named one of Oregon’s Outstanding Young Farmers. In 2006, Benny, Emil and Warner were honored as the Grand Marshals of the Vale 4th of July Parade & Rodeo.

Benny was well known for his pranks, jokes, wit and sense of humor, and anyone who knew him was certain to have a “Benny story.” He was remarkably hard-working, honest, down to earth, extraordinarily generous and took pleasure delivering fresh sweet corn to friends after frequent raids of Rex’s sweet corn patches.

After his cancer diagnosis Benny often remarked how much he had enjoyed farming, and that he’d had a good life. Also, how much he appreciated and enjoyed the multitude of cards and kindnesses given him. He insisted when he died that his life be celebrated, not mourned. His wish to have his ashes spread over the 20 acres he took out of sagebrush by horse and plow will be honored later.

Benny is survived by Wanda, his wife of 58 years; son, Rex Maag (Patty), of Vale; daughter, Lila Vogele (Stan), of Boise, and daughter, Loretta Mumford (Bob), of Anchorage; grandchildren, Kirk Benny, Melissa and Nick Maag, Kyle and Kaylan Vogele and Ty Mumford; brothers, Emil and Warner (Mary K); sisters, Helen, Lorene and Clara; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and sisters, Lillie, Marie and Alice.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations toward the establishment of an annual Malheur County Fair livestock award (Benny Maag Memorial Fund), or to the charity of your choice, c/o Lienkaemper Chapel, P.O. Box 970, Ontario, OR, 97914.

Written by Benny to share after he passed:

January 12, 2010

Dear God,

I want to thank you for my lovely wife and family. They have been good to me. I also want to thank you for all my good friends and family for their good wishes and prayers. They have been a boost in my lifetime. Also my doctors and staff who have been so good to me. Please don’t feel sorry, but celebrate my 85 good years, not my few low. God bless you all till we all meet again.

Benny

Facts

Born: July 2, 1924
Death: January 28, 2010

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Memorial Service

Thursday February 4, 2010, 11:00 AM at Vale Christian Church
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