Roger 'Pat' Patrick Bennetts

BESSEMER, Mich. - Roger "Pat" Patrick Bennetts, 70, on Wednesday, May 24, 2017, left this fine earth to find a better hunting camp with God.

Roger, "Pat" as he was known by his Upper Peninsula friends and family, lived in many different towns and cities in the Midwest during his working careers in sales and sales management, choosing to retire/return in 2011 to the U.P. of Michigan, the place he loved so much.

He loved hunting, four-wheeling with his friends, absolutely loved skiing (he ski patrolled for more than 50 years at multiple ski resorts in the area), and golf. Most of all he loved his friends and family.

He was honest as the day is long. He liked fishing but couldn't quite work it in as much as he wanted with all his other commitments and activities. We know he and his buddy, Carl Weyl are doing a lot of fishing in Heaven.

Roger "Pat" was the youngest son born on June 20, 1946, to Vivian (Tobin) and Walter "Beanie" Bennetts; he was a brother to Ron (Mary), Don (Maryann) and Jay (Sandy).

Roger leaves his wife, Judy of 22 happy years of marriage; his daughter, Lindsay and her husband, Joe Partanen (former Bessemer residents currently residing in Virginia); his brother, Jay and his wife, Sandy, Escanaba; his sister-in-law, Maryann, Bessemer; many nieces and nephews; brothers and sisters in the National Ski Patrol; and countless friends who he loved as family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Ron and Don; his sisters-in-law, Mary and Shirley; nieces, Renee and Jeanee; and nephews, Jay and Joel.

A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, June 3, from 12:30 to 4 p.m., at Blackjack Ski Resort, N11251 Blackjack Road, in Bessemer. Lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m., and a program will begin at 2 p.m.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield. Condolences may be expressed online at lakesidememorialchapel.com.