LEWISTON — Bradley Merle Benson, 71, of Bethel, died on Thursday, Dec. 16, at Central Maine Medical Center following a long illness.

He was born on Nov. 19, 1939, in Berlin, N.H., the second child of Frank and Sylvia Benson. He grew up in Bethel and was educated in Bethel schools, graduating from Gould Academy in 1958. After completing high school, he entered the U.S. Army Reserve and was honorably discharged. In 1960, he married the former Anne Brown of Bethel, and they had a son, Andrew. In 1979, he married the former Fern Bachelder, also of Bethel, and they had a daughter, Bliss. A hard worker, Bradley devoted much of his life to building a successful timber business and he loved nothing as much as working in the woods himself. He continued work, managing the day to day affairs of his company, until very shortly before his death.

He is survived by Fern, who cared for him in his final illness; his son, Andrew, Andrew’s wife, Alicia, granddaughter, Olivia Grace, all of Athens; daughter Bliss, of Bethel; brother, Frank Benson of Winthrop; sister, Sylvia Murphy, of Portland, and sister, Sharon Kimball of Waterford.

Online condolences may be shared with his family at www.andrewsgreenleaf.com.