by Autumn Genzler,
GHS Blue Ink staff writer
It’s been two years since the Howe’s lost their son and brother but the impact Benton still has on the community is immeasurable.
You may be young, but you can still have a huge impact on anyone and anything, so be kind, try your best, and put yourself out there.
Monday, April 15 marked two years since Betsy and Nathan Howe lost a son, Bryce and Miles Howe lost a brother, and the whole community of Garretson lost a friend.
Benton Howe was an 11-year-old boy who lived in Sherman and attended the 5th grade at Garretson Elementary School; he tragically lost his life in a UTV rollover accident.
“He was the kindest kid you would probably ever meet; he had a heart for everything. He always had an animal is his hand. He always had a baby in his arms. Or he always had a ball in his hand, no matter what. He was on the go all the time,” said his mom, Betsy.
Benton was caring, loving, compassionate, funny, and crazy. Friends of his shared all the fun stories they have had with him, the main stories being about riding dirt bikes.
“My favorite memory with Benton is probably riding four-wheelers and dirt bikes in his gravel pit,” said Kaden Hoogland.
Although Benton loved riding dirt bikes that is not all he did; like his mom said, he was always on the go.
“My favorite memory with Benton is playing football with him.” stated Zach Hermanson.
Colton Buchholz said, “My favorite memory with Benton was any car ride with him. He always made them so much more fun.”
Benton was altogether a really fun person to be around; he always lit up a room with his smile or personality.
“My favorite memory with Benton was just hanging out with him and being with him,” Thor Zell said.
Many big memories have been made with Benton but the impacts he had made in just 11 short years were even bigger.
On April 15, 2022 Benton and his four-legged best friend, Kimber, were called home in that tragic accident; however, we have many reminders of who Benton was and how he is still with us. The community of Garretson has gone above and beyond to keep Benton with us: Pack the Park night is an annual event where the 12U baseball and softball teams each play a game while other fun activities including silent auctions to help raise money for the Benton Howe
Memorial Scholarship. Pack the Park is meant to bring the community together and to keep Benton’s love for ball alive.
Also at the ball fields, Benton has a tree and a bench in his honor: there is a BH spelled out in stone around the tree and the bench has his full name on it. The State 12U Class B Baseball Sportsmanship Award has recently been renamed in Benton’s honor just this last year. River Ridge Golf Course in Garretson holds an annual golf tournament in Benton’s name with proceeds going to the Benton Howe Memorial Scholarship. Last year it filled within hours, and this year was nearly the same. They are also hosting a youth golf tournament the day before the regular one this year.
On a bigger scale the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks gives out one trapping set in Benton’s name every week to a kid who turned in their predator tails. The Game Fish and Parks did this for Benton because he loved and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and trapping. Even though he isn’t physically with us, Benton’s impact and memory can be seen everywhere; from shirts and bracelets to memorials and scholarships. On the anniversary of his passing, students, staff members, and anyone in the community were encouraged to wear their Benton shirts, Pack the Park shirts, or anything orange since it was his favorite color.
To this day Benton is still missed, forever loved, but never forgotten.
“Just live like Benton, keep his memory alive,” said Betsy. “That’s all I ask for, for his brothers’ sake. Just live like Benton.”
