Whitney, Idaho Cemetery

In southern Franklin County, Idaho is the small farming community of Whitney. It is nestled between the towns of Preston and Franklin. Named after Elder Orson F. Whitney of the Quorum of the Twelve, Whitney is the place where Ezra Taft Benson was born to George and Sarah Benson on 4 August 1899.

After a remarkable life of service to God and country, President Benson was laid to rest in the Whitney Cemetery following his passing on 30 May 1994. As a young man, Ezra Benson attended Oneida Stake Academy at nearby, Preston, Idaho. He served in the British Mission under President David O. McKay. Following his missionary service, Ezra graduated from BYU and married Flora Amussen. He received a master’s degree from Iowa State, thus becoming the first president of the Church to hold a graduate degree. He served as a stake president both in Idaho and Washington, D.C. before being called as an apostle. He was ordained and set apart as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve on 7 October 1943, the same day as Spencer W. Kimball.

Immediately following World War II, Ezra Taft Benson spent nearly a year in war-torn Europe coordinating the distribution of relief supplies and reopening missionary work. In the 1950s he was asked to serve as Secretary of Agriculture in the Eisenhower administration and did so for the full eight years. President Benson served as President of the Church from 10 November 1985 to May 1994. Following his funeral in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, a motorcade took him to Franklin and his final resting place next to his beloved Flora, who had passed away on 14 August 1992.

Map & Directions

Just north of the Utah-Idaho border on U.S. 91 is the town of Franklin, Idaho. From Franklin, drive north on highway 91 for about 4-5 miles to Whitney. Turn east (right) on 1400 South followed by a quick left (north) on 1400 East Road. Continue north about 1/4 mile to the cemetery. The Benson plots are located in the northwest corner. The gps coordinates for the cemetery are: 42°04’41.10″ N; 111°50’31.71″ W.

Ownership Status

The little cemetery at unincorporated Whitney is associated with a Preston postal code, but public nonetheless. It is open seven days a week during daylight hours.

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