Gerald Charles Benedict

Gerald Charles Benedict, retired U.S. Treasury Department special agent passed away on July 14, 2024 in Sandpoint, Idaho. 

The Rosary prayer will be said at the St. Joseph Church on Thursday, July 18 at 5:00 p.m. and Father Rob Cook will be the celebrant at the funeral mass held on Friday, July 19 at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be later at Sowle Cemetery near Maple Rapids, MI. 

Jerry was born on October 20, 1933, to Gerald and Margaret (Barrett) in St. Johns, MI and lived in Clinton County until he graduated from high school in 1952. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Security Agency in November of that year and served primarily in the Washington, DC area as a military police officer from 1953 until 1955. In 1966 Jerry received a direct commission to LT. (jg) in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, specializing in port security. He left the Reserve as a Lieutenant Commander in 1982. Jerry was a member of the local Post of the American Legion

He married his high school classmate, Shirley Ann Clark on April 23, 1955, at Mary's Cathedral in Lansing, MI. Jerry graduated from Michigan State University in September 1959 with a degree in Police Administration. He served as a police officer in East Lansing during his senior year at MSU. On October 12, 1959, he was sworn in as an investigator with the Alcohol & Tobacco Tax Division in the IRS of the U.S. Treasury Department. In 1972 ATTD became a separate Bureau and retitled Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), and his title was changed to Special Agent. During the years 1959 to 1966 he was assigned to ATF offices in Jeffersonville and Indianapolis, IN, Richmond, Emporia & Norfolk, VA. In 1966, he was promoted to Bureau Headquarters in Washington D.C. In 1974, following a series of staff positions he was transferred to Detroit as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC). A year later he was promoted to Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Louisville, KY, District Office. He remained there until retirement on October 20, 1983. Following his retirement, the Benedict’s grew Christmas trees on their farm in Oldham County. He also served as a deputy sheriff in Oldham County until they "discovered" Bonner County on their first trip to the Great Northwest in the Fall of 1988 and moved here in June 1989.

During his 36 years in law enforcement (1953-1983) he was awarded the Treasury Department’s Albert Gallatin award for faithful services and was honored by the National Association of Treasury Agents for outstanding leadership. He also received a Certificate of Appreciation from the KY Peace Officers Association and special recognition from the National Association of Treasury Agents. He was a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police as well as The MI and KY Chiefs of Police and the Fraternal Order Of Police. Jerry was a charter member and past president of the local Safety/Police Officers Retired to Sandpoint (SPORTS). In 2003, he published his autobiography, "I Had The Right To Remain Silent" in which he related his life experiences, including 36 years in law enforcement.

He was a long-time member of the National Association of Federal Retirees and served as President of the Idaho Federation in 1993-1995. He was active in the Knights of Columbus, serving as the Grand Knight of the local Council and as the District Deputy in northern Idaho. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club in both KY and ID. In June 2006 Jerry was inducted into the greater Lansing, MI Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the undefeated St. Johns football teams of 1949-1951. In September 2016, the teams’ members were inducted into the newly established St. Johns High School Hall of Fame.

He is survived by five children, Allan L. Benedict (Kathleen ), Northville , MI; Susan M.

Benedict (Jay Carroll), White Salmon, WA; Jeffrey C. Benedict (Cathy), Dunedin, FL; Elizabeth A. Benedict, Seattle, WA; and Robert C. Benedict (Cai), Sandpoint, ID.

Jerry leaves a granddaughter, Breanna M. Benedict, WA and four grandsons, Allan M. Benedict (Kate), NY; Ryan E. Benedict (Marissa), CA; Jesse C. Huttman, WA; David Hardesty and great-grandson, David Hardesty, Jr., KY. He also leaves several nephews and nieces and special friend Lynn Harpe.

Jerry was preceded in death by his Wife, Shirley, 2016; Brother William, 2015; Mother, Margaret 1985; Father, Gerald, 1939 and Sister-in-law Joyce (Sievert) in 2017.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to:

Better Together Animal Alliance

870 Kootenai Cutoff Rd.

Ponderay, ID 83852

https://bettertogetheranimalalliance.org/

Email: info@BTAnimalAlliance.org 

Phone: (208) 265-7297

Angels Over Sandpoint

PO Box 2369

Sandpoint, ID 83864

https://www.angelsoversandpoint.org/copy-of-contact

Email: contactus@angelsoversandpoint.org 

Phone: 208-290-5895