Gaige Christopher George Benson, 23, entered into his eternal rest on September 27, 2023. He was deeply cherished and brought so much light and laughter to this world for so many people.

Gaige was born January 24, 2000 to Christopher Benson and Shelby Smith and raised in the Salt Lake City, UT area. He was a driven soul and wise beyond his years.

He was highly intelligent and known to have a passion for learning new things, excelling with straight A’s and multiple academic awards all through his school years. Gaige graduated with Honors from Kearns High School in 2018, already having earned his CNA and Pharmacy Tech certifications. He always strived to gain as much knowledge as he could possibly hold.

When Gaige set his mind on a goal, he pushed himself to achieve it. A small example of this that his parents will never forget is the New Year’s resolution he made at seven years old to not drink soda for the entire year - he didn’t drink a single drop of soda that year; even at a root beer float party they had at school, he opted to just have the ice cream.

He always strived to try something new - from scouts to various sports as a child, to food, to music, to traveling overseas as he grew into adulthood. He taught himself to play string instruments and loved jamming with his buddies.

After high school he traveled overseas to Greece, where he did a solo hike through Mount Athos, visiting numerous monasteries along the way. This helped him to discover his faith in the Greek Orthodox Church. After careful thought and prayer, he was baptized January 6, 2021 under his chosen patron Saint George.

Gaige leaves behind his loving parents Shelby Smith and Chris Benson (Keri Bare), his grandparents Terri Benson and Jeff and Paula Hales, great-grandmother Betty Davies, and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents Cheryl and Gary Smith, Steve Benson, and Arden and Karen Horne.

An evening visitation will be held on Friday, October 6, 2023 from 6:00-8:00pm at Redwood Memorial Mortuary, 6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, UT during which a Trisagion service (prayer) will be given from 6:30-7:00pm.

Funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 1:30pm with viewing prior beginning at 12:30 PM at Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church located 355 South 300 East, Salt Lake City, UT, followed by a graveside ceremony at 3:30pm at Redwood Memorial Cemetery.