12/02/2025
Benny Burel Bryson was born June 15, 1947, in Salem. He left this world November 21, 2025, in Salem at his home with his wife by his side. Ben had struggled for years from a rare disease of the brain. This disease eventually took his mobility and speech. He still for years, almost daily loved to go for rides around Salem and into the county. These rides always required having a tall cup of hot caramel macchiato coffee and a bag of fresh warm donuts.
Ben’s joys in life were eating good food, hunting, fishing and travel. His family always knew he really thought there was nothing wrong with a good long stay at home. He loved his old tractor, his equally old lawn mower, and his beloved work bench. If there was anything around the house that required the use of his tractor or the need for mowing, he was happy. It was sad for his family and others that would pass by his home, when you could no longer see him driving that old tractor or doing his slow mowing of grass. He had a large work bench that was full of tools and all kinds of gadgets. He would spend hours standing at that bench working with the tools. Those tools came second only to his children. No one really knew what he was always working one, but he was never bothered because we knew it must have been important to him. He could tell you where every tool was, each had a special place, and he never really wanted you to move or use any of them!
Benny lived his life in Salem. He and his wife and many times his whole family spent a great deal of time traveling; however he was always very happy to come back home to Salem. Ben attended the R80 School District his entire education and later in live served as President of the R80 School Board. During his years in school, he made cherished lifelong friendships. Many of these friends have now passed on before him. After high school graduation he attended college at the SMS and was in the Missouri National Guard.
Ben was always interested in something new. He was a businessman and from owning a Montgomery Wards store years through to a Century 21, he was always busy. He was a licensed real estate broker and an appraiser. Ben served as a Dent County Commissioner for many years and retired as a City of Salem Street and Airport Supervisor. He was then looking forward to many more years of working on his tractor, mowing grass and rearranging that work bench. He had plans to travel the country in an RV with wife Cheryl and see more beautiful scenery.
Ben was so loved and will truly be missed. He loved his family, cared for his community, and was a friend to all.
Benny is survived by his wife Cheryl of fifty-seven years and three children. Daughter, Rebecca Bennett, husband Brian, Ben’s grandchildren, Bryson, Reese, and Aiden all of Wildwood, Missouri. Sons Matthew of Columbus, Ohio and Patrick Bryson, wife Jill, Ben’s grandson Wesley of Dayton, Ohio. He is survived by two sisters, Darlene Preiss of St. Louis, Missouri and Martha Palazzo, husband Joe of Columbia, Missouri. Benny had three sisters-in-law, Reba Bryson of Rolla, Missouri, Charla Dougherty, husband Lester, of Connell, Washington, and Kara Huitt, husband Jim of Mountain Home, Arkansas. He had one brother-in-law, Dwayne Cooksey of Salem, Missouri. Mother-in-law Val Cooksey Meyers also of Salem. Benny was so fortunate to have many caring nieces and nephews and their families.
