Yet another addition to my partial list of LDS missionaries who gave their lives while serving the Lord. On Saturday August 3rd, 2013, Elder Thomas Milo Bennett suffered a fatal cardiac arrest and died in hospital in Casper, Wyoming. This occurred only three days before he was scheduled to fly home for a surgical procedure. Elder Bennett, who hails from Window Rock, AZ and who was serving in the South Dakota Rapid City Mission, had been admitted to the hospital earlier that day suffering from nausea. He leaves behind his parents, Darrell and Laverne Bennett, as well as three siblings. Complete stories have been published by the Deseret News and KSL Channel 5.
Romero Brown, president of the Chinle Arizona Stake from where Elder Bennett originated, said that the medical staff did everything possible to save Bennett. He further stated "The family is taking it pretty hard. But they have great faith. They got him ready to go on this mission. They trust their son is in Heavenly Father's care."
Of interest is the fact that Elder Bennett had set his sights upon a mission even before he was baptized into the Church. When he was only six years old, he would show up at church in a dark suit and a white shirt and tie with a name tag that said "Future Missionary" on it. Elder Bennett also made a pact with three childhood friends that they would all serve full-time missions for the Church. Nothing like having the desire for a mission planted early in life and getting reinforcement from peers at the same time; he ended up following in the footsteps of Samuel the Lamanite. By the way, the Chinle Stake has sent out 20 missionaries during the past three years alone.
Funeral services for Elder Bennett are pending, although Brown said they would most likely be held on Friday or Saturday.
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