Benny C. Petrus

Benny Charles Petrus, 67, of Stuttgart passed away Friday, May 17, 2024, at Baptist Health-Little Rock.

Benny was born Nov. 23, 1956, in Stuttgart to Bernard and Earline Petrus who preceded him in death. He was a 1975 graduate of Stuttgart High School and attended the University of Arkansas at Central Arkansas where he played on the baseball team. He was a businessman owning several car dealerships in Stuttgart and several other businesses. He served in the Arkansas House of Representatives between 2002-2009 but was proud to serve as Speaker of the House between 2007 and 2009.

Benny enjoyed working along with his brothers Steve and Dobber, duck and dove hunting with friends and crappie fishing with his favorite fishing partner Rudy. He loved spending time and improving farms and deer camps with his boys. He made a lot of good decisions in his life but the best one he ever made was marrying a woman from Illinois. Benny loved his family and his greatest joy was spending time with them.

Survivors are his wife of 40 years, Tammy Petrus; two sons, Jonathan Petrus and Justin Petrus of Stuttgart; two brothers, Dwayne “Dobber” Petrus (Nancy Hancock) and Steve Petrus (Hannah Maier) of Stuttgart; and two nieces, Erin Petrus Piper and family and Shannon Petrus Zehtaban and family.

Rosary will be said at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Holy Rosary Catholic Church.

Funeral Mass, officiated by Monsignor Jack Harris and Father Babu Battula, is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Rosary Catholic Church by Turpin Funeral Home.

The family requests memorials to Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 1815 S. Prairie St., Stuttgart, Ark. 72160.