Sharon Camille “Cam” (Engel) Bennett, 79, of Oshkosh, NE passed away at the Garden County Hospital on March 1, 2023.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, March 30, 2023, at the St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Oshkosh with Deacon Dixon Powers officiating. Burial will follow in the Oshkosh City Cemetery.
Family and friends can leave condolences at www.bondegardfunerals.com.
Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home in Oshkosh is serving the Bennett family.
Cam was known for her personality, kindness, love for fashion and Weimaraner dogs.
She was born to Ernie and Eloyce Engel on April 12, 1943 in Tacoma, Washington. Shortly after her birth Ernie was deployed to Europe with the Army. Eloyce and Cam moved to California to be close grandparents and uncles. As a child in California her mom and Grandmother and Uncles always went to the Rose Parade. She made it a point to watch the Rose Parade every year. When Ernie returned from WW2 the relocated to Bismark. Cam graduated from Bismarck High School in ND. Shortly after Cam graduated high school her parents relocated to North Platte. Cam attended college in Southern Utah. Cam made her way to Las Vegas and joined Frontier Airlines as a Flight Attendant. She also worked at the Riviera Hotel and Casino scheduling show reservations. Cam met various stars working at the reservation desk, from Dean Martin to Don Rickles.
Cam enjoyed English riding, dressage, and show jumping. Cam made her way back to Western Nebraska with her horse Bones, Weimaraner dog, and married Vernon “Short” Bennett on December 7, 1973. They lived south of Oshkosh on a cattle ranch. With her love of horses and fashion she prepared contestants for Queen contests and helped with 4-H kids. In the early 80’s Short and Cam got interested in Percheon horses participated in many parades, with their two- and four-horse hitch teams. They diversified the ranching and created Thunder Valley wagon rides along the Oregon Trail. Cam would tell stories about people and events that happened on the Oregon Trail. They sold the ranch and took their horses and dog, and moved to Weston, MO, where she took up cosmetology. They left Weston with their horses and dog back to western Nebraska to the Sandhills north of Alliance. Her and Short belonged to a horse driving club and enjoyed this for many years.
Short retired, to a place south of Kimball. Cam was actively driving her 2 wheel cart around the place and with the harness club. Cam made new friends while working at the Kimball County Manor. After Short passed away, Cam moved back to Oshkosh to the place they always called “home”.
Cam is survived by her brother Greg (Donna) Engel from Granbury, TX; stepchildren, Sandy (Mike) Shafer of Aurora, CO, Bill (Tracy) Bennett of Bayard, NE, and Brad (Tara) Bennett of Parker, CO; Grandchildren Kristyn (Garrett), Bryce, Denielle, Emily, Zachary, Katharine, and Jacob; Nieces and Nephews; Valerie Poels, Donald Ozburn, Timothy Engel; and faithful pet Major.
She was preceded in death by her parents Ernie and Eloyce Engel, and husband Vernon Bennett.