Walter F Bennett  

Walter F. Bennett & Company - In 1950, Walter F. Bennett and Company, a Chicago advertising firm, became the public relations firm of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Walter Bennett and his partner, Fred Dienert, already were handling many religious radio programs, including the Lutheran Hour. From that time forward, they also handled the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's Hour of Decision radio and television programs, the advertising for most of the crusades, and the daily newspaper column My Answer. - Billy Graham Center Archives [a Wheaton College Wheaton, Illinois] BGEA: Walter F. Bennett & Company - Collection 54 ...These materials were received from the Walter F. Bennett and Co. in August and November 1978 and July 1981.

Dr. Theodore Elsner recommended his son-in-law, Alfred Dienert who had recently given up his radio sales job at station WIBG to join Bennett, the operator of a small advertising agency in Chicago, to form the Walter F. Bennett Co

Alfred Dienert, 79, of Rydal, partner in a Christian advertising agency whose expertise helped turn radio into a national pulpit for the Rev. Billy Graham, died Wednesday [April 28 1993] at Abington Memorial Hospital.

"Fred Dienert was among my five best friends throughout my life," Mr. Graham said in a statement. "I have a great love for him and a great indebtedness to him and his partner, Walter Bennett."

Indeed, Mr. Dienert, with his advertising partner, Walter F. Bennett, played a major role in Mr. Graham's career.

Mr. Dienert was active in the company until his death. After stepping down as president in 1988, he continued to serve as board chairman.

The association between the advertising agency and Mr. Graham also had a profound effect on the agency, which had started out handling secular advertising accounts of Pioneer Salt & Chemical, Herrs Potato Chips, Longacre Poultry and others

Gradually, the agency ended up almost exclusively representing Christian ministries. Among them were the Rev. Robert Shuler's Hour of Power, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, New Heritage, USA; the Christian Booksellers Association, and Samaritan's Purse. It also handled a number of radio and television broadcasts besides Hour of Power, such as The Morning Sunshine Hour, Changed Lives, The Wesleyan Hour and The Hour of Decision.

Walter F. Bennett, head of an advertising agency instrumental...
Dec. 5, 1980

CHICAGO -- Walter F. Bennett, head of an advertising agency instrumental in helping evangelist Billy Graham put his religious crusades on radio and television, died Friday. He was 65.

Bennett died of a massive heart attack at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke Medical Center where he had been undergoing dialysis.

A resident of both Chicago and Culver, Ind., Bennett was a partner with Fred Dienert at the Chicago agency of Walter F. Bennett and Co.

Bennett began his association with Graham in 1949. He helped Graham establish the radio program,'The Hour of Decision', which is now carried worldwide on about 800 stations.

Bennett's firm later put Graham on television, producing both reruns of his evangelist crusades and special programs. The first television production for Graham was a run of 17 weeks while he was preaching in New York's Madison Square Garden in 1949.

Bennett started in the broadcasting field in Denver, where he was a musician and entertainer on KOA Radio. He later enlarged his program to several stations in Chicago.

He is survived by his wife, Charlotte, two sons William, 28, and Paul, 25, and one grandson. Funeral arrangements were pending.

Walter Fritjof Bennett Birth 13 Jan 1915 Whitehall, Michigan Death 5 Dec 1980 Chicago, Cook, Illinois son of Adolph Bennett and Emma Johnson Note He is a sister to Lillian Bennet Ottoson Lawrance (Mrs. Robert A. Ottoson)

married Charlotte Ivey Carlson Birth 31 Jan 1915 Chicago, Cook, Illinois Death 11 Apr 2000 Lancaster, Los Angeles, California daughter of Johan Georg (George) Carlson and Agnes M Johnson

Children: William "Bill" Bennett married Cathy -----

has written two completed manuscripts in a fictional trilogy about a boy ' growing up on beautiful Lake Maxinkuckee in Culver, Indiana.

Paul George Bennett Birth: 1 Feb 1955 Abbington, PA Death: 6 Apr 2010 Rochester, Fulton, Indiana married 1st 15 Sep 1980 CulVer, Marshall, Indiana Beverley O'Neill Griffin Brith abt 1961 Griffith N.S.W Australia 2 previous marriages or Sydney, Australia divorced 1982;

married 2nd Nov 1 2002 Plymouth Marshall county Indiana Cindy Lou Lewis married 1st ---, divorced 1994 daughter of Raymond D. Lewis and Doris K. Watson

Paul G. "Captain" Bennett, 55 of Rochester, passed away Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at his residence.

Born on February 1, 1955 in Abbington, PA., he was the son of the late Walter F. and Charlotte I. (Carlson) Bennett.

On November 2, 2002 he married Cindy Lewis, she survives.

Paul was a former chef and musician. He enjoyed playing and listening to music and photography.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Culver and Moose Lodge # 721 in Plymouth. Paul was a loving husband, father, brother and friend to many.

He is survived by his wife, Cindy Lewis-Bennett of Rochester, sons, Robert Bennett of California, Donavon and Aaron Klein of Illinois, brother, William "Bill" Bennett and his wife, Cathy of Lancaster, CA., sister, Elaine Shea of North Carolina and granddaughter, Isabelle Klein. Paul will also be greatly missed by his puppy, Jackie.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 430 Academy Rd., Culver, IN.

Friends may call for one hour prior to the time of service at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family in care of the Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made to the Bennett family at www. harrisonmetzger. com

Arrangements have been entrusted to Harrison-Metzger & Rans Funeral Home, Kewanna Chapel

Bill Bennet wrote on his Facebook page: Every man's favorite car is his first dream car! Mine was the 1966 Bonneville Convertible. This photo was taken in front of 810 West Shore Drive in Culver, Indiana, where you can see the north wing of the house in the background. - More important it shows little change has been made to the house over the years.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Swedish American Church Records, 1800-1946 
Name:	Walter Fritjof Bennett
Gender:	Male
Event Type:	Member List
Birth Date:	13 Jan 1915
Birth Place:	Whitehall, Michigan
Baptism Date:	7 Mar 1915
Father:	Adolph Bennett
Mother:	Emma Bennett
Relation to Head:	Son
Church:	Lebanon Lutheran Church 

Year: 1920; Census Place: Chicago Ward 30, Cook (Chicago), Illinois; 
Roll: T625_347; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 1862
Name:	Walter F Bennett
Age:	4
Birth Year:	abt 1916
Birthplace:	Michigan
Home in 1920:	Chicago Ward 30, Cook (Chicago), Illinois
Street:	So Wentworth Ave
Residence Date:	1920
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Son
Marital status:	Single
Father's name:	Adolph Bennett
Father's Birthplace:	Sweden
Mother's name:	Emma Bennett
Mother's Birthplace:	Sweden
Able to Speak English:	Yes
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	
Name	Age
Adolph Bennett	50
Emma Bennett	45
Lilliam Bennett	12
Walter F Bennett	4

 

Year: 1930; Census Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; 
Page: 24B; Enumeration District: 0341; FHL microfilm: 2340163
Name:	Walter Bennett
Birth Year:	abt 1915
Gender:	Male
Race:	White
Birthplace:	Michigan
Marital status:	Single
Relation to Head of House:	Son
Home in 1930:	Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA
Map of Home:	View Map
Street address:	Rhodes Ave
Ward of City:	Eighth
Block:	159
House Number:	7311
Dwelling Number:	251
Family Number:	520
Attended School:	Yes
Able to Read and Write:	Yes
Father's Birthplace:	Sweden
Mother's Birthplace:	Sweden
Able to Speak English:	Yes
Household Members:	
Name	Age
Adolph Bennett	61
Emma Bennett	56
Walter Bennett	15
Joseph Swenson	24
Lillian Swenson	22
Joseph Swenson	0