Dion C. Bennett

Obituary for

Dion Cecil Bennett

Dion Cecil Bennett, 88 of Omaha, NE passed away on October 5, 2026. He was born on January 12, 1938 in Stromsburg, NE to Cecil and Doris (Malmen) Bennett. He was raised in Stromsburg with his siblings Duane, Jane and Joe.

He was a standout athlete at Stromsburg High School, playing both football and basketball. During his senior year, he was named the Omaha World Herald Player of the Week after scoring 31 points in a game at a time when there were no 3-pointers. He was very proud of that accomplishment.

While in high school, he worked delivering groceries in Stromsburg and for the local barber, sweeping floors and cleaning spittoons. He recalled getting paid in pocket change and Juicy Fruit gum.

Though he briefly considered a life in farming, God had other plans. He graduated from Stromsburg High School with the Class of 1956. He left the day after graduation to attend Nebraska Wesleyan University for two years before going to work for Larry and Joe Price at King's Food Host in Lincoln in 1958.

Dion met the love of his life, Janet Kay Philippi when she came to work at King's Food Host after high school. Dion was a manager there, and when he asked how she was doing, the woman training Janet told him, "I don't think she's gonna make it." But he made sure that she did. He and Janet were married on January 9, 1960.

Later that year, he raised eyebrows when he drove two pregnant women on consecutive days to the hospital. He took Janet in to deliver their son Kevin the first day, then sister-in-law Beverly to deliver her daughter Bonnie on the next, because her husband Paul was in Chicago.

The pair worked together for King's Food Host for many years. They were a great team. In 1973, Dion received the invitation of a lifetime to join Dean Rasmussen, Bob Kerrey and Danny Sullivan at the Golden Skillet, which became Grandmother's Restaurant and Lounge. When the offer came it was a package deal, Janet had to come along.

Dion and Janet continued working side by side, making sure the restaurants ran smoothly, the staff were trained well and the food was exceptional. He cared for the people who worked alongside him. He often drove young dishwashers home after their late shifts so their parents wouldn't have to venture out in the middle of the night. He and his family survived the 1975 Omaha blizzard and the tornado that destroyed Grandmother's. It was hard work to rebuild and reopen the restaurant.

When the partners wanted a faster, casual-service dining option, Dion responded with "Don & Millie's", launching the concept in the late 1980s. He opened eight stores and trained grill staff in Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue, and Fremont over the next several years. When they passed his taste test, the graduates' names were added to a plaque and they received a $100 bill. He was always known for his great burgers.

Family was everything to Dion. Though he worked long hours, he never missed the moments that mattered. He attended Kevin's and Todd's sporting events, tossed footballs in the backyard, joined Boy Scout campouts and church confirmation trips. Later, he was there for his granddaughter Cristen's big moments, too. Christmas celebrations were especially important, and he and Janet somehow made room for multiple celebrations in a single day. Their home was always open to family and friends in need of a place to stay.

Dion was a humble man whose wisdom was sought often by family and friends. Often, his guidance came not from what he said but from what he chose not to say. He treated everyone with kindness and respect. Behind the scenes, he was also a careful planner, known for his legal pads filled with figures, calculations and thoughtful projections.

He was a devoted member of FaithWestwood Church for more than 60 years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he and Janet hosted "church" every afternoon on their front porch with their neighbors in the circle, to check in, encourage and pray for each other. Those daily church services continued for years after the pandemic ended. Neighbors on the circle still remember those afternoons as a special blessing.

Dion would be the first to say that he was a blessed man. He was deeply grateful for his wonderful family, friends, coworkers, neighbors and community. His legacy lives on in the people whose lives he touched.

Dion is preceded in death by his loving wife Janet, infant grandson Glenn Patrick Bennett, parents Cecil and Doris Bennett, brother Duane, brother-in-law Edward, brother- and sister-in-law Albert and Thelma Philippi, brother- and sister-in-law Kenneth and Connie Byers, and brother-in-law Paul Bateman. He is survived by his son Kevin and his wife Keri of Kearney, son Todd of Omaha, granddaughter Cristen Bennett and friend Tiffany Davis of Lincoln, brother Joe and his wife Yvonne of Shelby, sister Jane and her husband Lionel Swanson of Mesa, AZ, sister-in-law Beverly Bateman of Lincoln, and many other relatives and friends.

CELEBRATION OF DION'S LIFE: Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 11:00 am. Family will receive friends at 10:00 am, at FaithWestwood United Methodist Church, 4814 Oaks Lane, Omaha, NE. A reception will follow immediately after the service at the church. The family asks those who attend Dion's Celebration of Life service to please dress casually.

INURNMENT: Voss Mohr Cemetery at a later date.

Memorials given to the family will be used in Dion's memory at a later date.

Braman Mortuary and Cremation Services 6605 S. 144th St. / Omaha, NE 68137 / 401-896-3400