Obituaries

Bruno L. Benson Bruno L. Benson, age 85, of Ojai, passed away at home May 6, 2000 after a brief illness.Bruno was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on August 15, 1916, and lived in Ojai for the last 72 years.He was a crane operator for 35 years, for various employers and for himself. He was active in paleontology and gem and minerals, including membership in the Ventura Gem and Mineral Society. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge and experience with family members, and museums and classrooms throughout the county. He was recently responsible for an ongoing monthly exhibit at Santa Paula’s California Oil Museum.He is survived by his second wife, Opal W. Benson of Ojai; daughter Janet Robles of Santa Paula; son Roger of Washington State; stepdaughter Frances Van Antwerp of Rancho Cucamonga; sister Flora Orr of Arizona; several grandchildren, including Dan Robles; and several great-grandchildren, including Brian Booher.Bruno was preceded in death by his parents, Willy and Ida Benson; first wife Jane; brothers, Roy and Leo; sister Lillian Greene; and stepdaughter Betty and her son Paul Booher.Bruno was cremated on May 9. Private services will be held on Saturday, May 20 at Nordhoff Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made in his memory to the First Baptist Church of Ojai Pantry Project, Ventura Gem and Mineral Society’s museum fund, or the Blanchard Community Library.Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.Dorothy Elizabeth AxellDorothy Elizabeth Axell passed away at home May 9, 2000 in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. She was born February 1, 1921 in Oxnard, the daughter of Herbert and Vida Hedrick.She attended Briggs School and graduated from Santa Paula High School. She went to Holmby College for two years, graduated, and then attended the University of Southern California for two years. She was affiliated with the Delta Delta Delta Sorority.In January 1943, she enlisted in the Navy and was stationed in San Diego. There she met and married Ross E. Axell. After the war they returned to the ranch in Santa Paula and raised their four children, Sandy, Cheryl, Randy and Kurt.After raising the children, She and Ross traveled all over the United States in their travel trailer. They landed in Lake Havasu City 18 years ago, and loved its diversity and friendliness. They made it their home away from home. Ross passed away in December 1984, and Dottie continued to live there until her death.Dorothy was a very special lady. Her whole mission in life was to be a homemaker for her family, and she was very good at it. She rarely though of herself, always doing for others. She was a generous, loving, kind person. She was involved not only with her family, but with the community as well. She will be greatly missed by all.She is survived by daughter Sandy Williams; daughter Cheryl Hall and husband Virgil; son Randy Axell and wife Joanna; son Kurt Axell; grandchildren, Luke and Lindsay Hall, Tara and Ryan Rosenthal, and Brandon Axell and fiancee Julie Peterson; and great granddaughter Marsted Hall.