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June Ekstrom Bennett 鈥�50

November 4, 2023, Portland, Oregon

June was born in Oakland, California, to Erik and Ellen Ekstrom, immigrants from Sweden and Denmark. She had an idyllic life, growing up in Oakland with her sister Helen.

At Reed, June wrote for the Quest. She met Eleanor Roosevelt at a tea when Mrs. Roosevelt came to visit her granddaughter at Reed. June also met Forrest Bennett ’49 at Reed, whom she married in 1949. They had 10 children and lived in Portland, where Forrest had a medical practice. They later divorced and June bought her dream home in Milwaukie. She worked many years at Aurora Aviation as office manager, a job she loved. She often traveled to Mexico. In 1969, she entered a poetry contest and won a brand-new Ford Mustang.

After June retired, she spent many happy years in her beautiful home with the tropical garden she planted. When she wasn’t tending the garden, she enjoyed relaxing and reading by her fireplace. She had a true “green thumb” for outdoor and house plants. Her many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren mostly lived nearby and visited often.

June was predeceased by her children, Linda and Julie. She is survived by her other children, Laura, Ron, Diane, Rebecca, Bruce, Sandra, Jan, and Amy.

Appeared in Reed magazine: Summer 2024