Alan Dean Benefiel Sr., beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and lifelong adventurer, passed away peacefully on February 13, 2026, at the age of 96.

Alan was born on June 8, 1929, in Los Angeles, California, and spent his childhood growing up in Pacific Palisades, which at the time was still surrounded by farmland and open land. His early years between the coast and mountains sparked a lifelong love of the outdoors and exploration.

As a young man, Alan embraced adventure whenever he could. He spent his teenage summers traveling north to Alaska, where he worked on riverboats and railways. When back home in California, he could often be found riding his bike along the Pacific Coast Highway, hiking the John Muir Trail, playing football at Will Rogers State Park, or exploring the rugged landscape of Tehachapi Canyon. Those early years shaped the curiosity and adventurous spirit that defined him throughout his life.

At 19 years old, while working a summer job in Fairbanks, Alaska, Alan was drafted into the United States Army. He served as a Sergeant during the Korean War, an experience that would become an important chapter in his life.

After returning home from military service, Alan attended California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, where he earned a degree in engineering. During this time, he married his first love, Audrey Jeanne Staben, in 1954, beginning a partnership that would lead to raising two sons and decades of adventure.

Alan went on to build a long and respected career with the Bureau of Reclamation, working in several locations throughout California, including Ventura and Tracy, before moving with his family to Durango, Colorado in 1972.

Durango quickly became home. Surrounded by mountains and endless opportunities to explore, Alan continued to nurture the adventurous spirit he had carried since childhood. Skiing trips, outdoor excursions, and family adventures became central to a life built in Colorado.

Even after retiring from his government career, Alan never slowed down. He joined the Purgatory Ski Resort Pro Patrol, where he worked as a binding mechanic, a job that allowed him to stay close to the slopes he loved while enjoying countless days skiing in the San Juan Mountains with his friends.

Alan was fortunate to experience two great loves in his life. After the passing of his first wife Audrey in 1992, he later met and married Beth Seales. Together, Alan and Beth shared many happy years in Durango, spending time with family, welcoming great-grandchildren, and traveling the world together.