Benny Vance Zelle, son of Claude and Nellie (Riseley) Zelle was born June 27, 1934, in a small farm house on the bank of Tepee Creek, Dewey County, Oklahoma. Benny passed from this life August 4, 2017, at 83 years of age.

Benny graduated from Camargo High School with the class of 1952. On March 19, 1954, Benny married LaMona Irene Crail in Clayton, New Mexico. Three children were born to this union: Kerma, Wanda, and Bret. In the early years the family lived in Camargo, OK, El Reno, OK, and Mulvane, KS. When Benny began his employment with Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America the family relocated to Pampa, TX, in 1959. In 1972 he accepted a promotion and transferred to Hoisington, KS. Benny retired in December of 1989 after 30 years of service. He then started his new career raising cattle southeast of Arnett, OK, on the Crail home place in Ellis County. Benny and LaMona enjoyed camping, fishing, traveling to dances and country music events, and watching grandkids in sporting and musical events. They especially enjoyed having friends out to the place for fish fries and card parties.

Benny was preceded in death by his wife LaMona, parents, and sister Norma Lee Baker.

He is survived by his daughters, Kerma Flores and husband Rudy of Harper, KS, and Wanda Smith and husband Kirk of Pawnee Rock, KS; son Bret Zelle and wife Judy of Magnolia, AR; six grandchildren, Calvin Flores and wife Hollie, Bryan Smith, Rachelle Powell and husband Brett, Amy Baldwin and husband Jeremy, Kelly Inscore and husband Josh, Matt Zelle and wife Lori, and eight great grandchildren; nieces Kay Newell and Nelda Woodward; other family and a host of friends.

Memorial donations may be made to Camargo Community Center, Camargo, OK, care of Shaw Funeral Home, Vici, OK.