Anchorage Daily News February 10, 1997
Longtime Palmer resident Irene Josephine Benson, 86, died at her home on Feb. 5, 1997, of a heart attack. A service for Mrs. Benson was held at St. John Lutheran Church, 440 E. Elmwood, Palmer. A visitation preceded the service at the church. The Rev. Jonathan Rockey officiated. Pallbearers were Jim Fox, Roger Fox, Dennis Stengrim, Tom Sjoka and Ralph Pelchat. Honorary pallbearers were Carol Christiansen, Bill Church and Charles Shaver. Interment followed at Palmer Pioneer Cemetery.
Mrs. Benson was born on July 30, 1910, in Superior, Wis., of Swedish immigrant parents, Louie and Kristina Johnson. She was raised on a farm in Blackhoof, Minn., where as a young girl she kept a trapline and hunted deer. This prepared her for life in Alaska when she and her new husband, Henning Benson came as members of the Matanuska Colony in May of 1935. She and Henning established the farm where they created a family and home. In 1950 she took over the running of the farm after the death of her husband and continued to maintain it until her death. For several years, beginning in 1960, she managed the co-op dry goods store as Benson's Department Store. After the store closed she went to work for Matanuska Maid until she retired in 1978. She enjoyed traveling, visiting relatives in Sweden and in the U.S. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Pioneers of Alaska, Teamsters Union and especially enjoyed her Sourdough Homemaker's Club and her pinochle club. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henning Benson, and her companion, Walt Spivey.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Arlene and Charlie Fox, grandson Jim Fox, grandson and wife, Roger and Christine Fox; her great-grandchildren, Zachary, Skyler and Charissa Fox all of Palmer; and numerous cousins in Sweden and the U.S. The family request that memorials may be sent ot St. John Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 774, Palmer, AK 99645. Arrangements for the family were made by Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.
Longtime Palmer resident Irene Josephine Benson, 86, died at her home on Feb. 5, 1997, of a heart attack. A service for Mrs. Benson was held at St. John Lutheran Church, 440 E. Elmwood, Palmer. A visitation preceded the service at the church. The Rev. Jonathan Rockey officiated. Pallbearers were Jim Fox, Roger Fox, Dennis Stengrim, Tom Sjoka and Ralph Pelchat. Honorary pallbearers were Carol Christiansen, Bill Church and Charles Shaver. Interment followed at Palmer Pioneer Cemetery.
Mrs. Benson was born on July 30, 1910, in Superior, Wis., of Swedish immigrant parents, Louie and Kristina Johnson. She was raised on a farm in Blackhoof, Minn., where as a young girl she kept a trapline and hunted deer. This prepared her for life in Alaska when she and her new husband, Henning Benson came as members of the Matanuska Colony in May of 1935. She and Henning established the farm where they created a family and home. In 1950 she took over the running of the farm after the death of her husband and continued to maintain it until her death. For several years, beginning in 1960, she managed the co-op dry goods store as Benson's Department Store. After the store closed she went to work for Matanuska Maid until she retired in 1978. She enjoyed traveling, visiting relatives in Sweden and in the U.S. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Pioneers of Alaska, Teamsters Union and especially enjoyed her Sourdough Homemaker's Club and her pinochle club. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henning Benson, and her companion, Walt Spivey.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Arlene and Charlie Fox, grandson Jim Fox, grandson and wife, Roger and Christine Fox; her great-grandchildren, Zachary, Skyler and Charissa Fox all of Palmer; and numerous cousins in Sweden and the U.S. The family request that memorials may be sent ot St. John Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 774, Palmer, AK 99645. Arrangements for the family were made by Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.
Anchorage Daily News February 10, 1997
Longtime Palmer resident Irene Josephine Benson, 86, died at her home on Feb. 5, 1997, of a heart attack. A service for Mrs. Benson was held at St. John Lutheran Church, 440 E. Elmwood, Palmer. A visitation preceded the service at the church. The Rev. Jonathan Rockey officiated. Pallbearers were Jim Fox, Roger Fox, Dennis Stengrim, Tom Sjoka and Ralph Pelchat. Honorary pallbearers were Carol Christiansen, Bill Church and Charles Shaver. Interment followed at Palmer Pioneer Cemetery.
Mrs. Benson was born on July 30, 1910, in Superior, Wis., of Swedish immigrant parents, Louie and Kristina Johnson. She was raised on a farm in Blackhoof, Minn., where as a young girl she kept a trapline and hunted deer. This prepared her for life in Alaska when she and her new husband, Henning Benson came as members of the Matanuska Colony in May of 1935. She and Henning established the farm where they created a family and home. In 1950 she took over the running of the farm after the death of her husband and continued to maintain it until her death. For several years, beginning in 1960, she managed the co-op dry goods store as Benson's Department Store. After the store closed she went to work for Matanuska Maid until she retired in 1978. She enjoyed traveling, visiting relatives in Sweden and in the U.S. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Pioneers of Alaska, Teamsters Union and especially enjoyed her Sourdough Homemaker's Club and her pinochle club. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henning Benson, and her companion, Walt Spivey.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Arlene and Charlie Fox, grandson Jim Fox, grandson and wife, Roger and Christine Fox; her great-grandchildren, Zachary, Skyler and Charissa Fox all of Palmer; and numerous cousins in Sweden and the U.S. The family request that memorials may be sent ot St. John Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 774, Palmer, AK 99645. Arrangements for the family were made by Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.
Longtime Palmer resident Irene Josephine Benson, 86, died at her home on Feb. 5, 1997, of a heart attack. A service for Mrs. Benson was held at St. John Lutheran Church, 440 E. Elmwood, Palmer. A visitation preceded the service at the church. The Rev. Jonathan Rockey officiated. Pallbearers were Jim Fox, Roger Fox, Dennis Stengrim, Tom Sjoka and Ralph Pelchat. Honorary pallbearers were Carol Christiansen, Bill Church and Charles Shaver. Interment followed at Palmer Pioneer Cemetery.
Mrs. Benson was born on July 30, 1910, in Superior, Wis., of Swedish immigrant parents, Louie and Kristina Johnson. She was raised on a farm in Blackhoof, Minn., where as a young girl she kept a trapline and hunted deer. This prepared her for life in Alaska when she and her new husband, Henning Benson came as members of the Matanuska Colony in May of 1935. She and Henning established the farm where they created a family and home. In 1950 she took over the running of the farm after the death of her husband and continued to maintain it until her death. For several years, beginning in 1960, she managed the co-op dry goods store as Benson's Department Store. After the store closed she went to work for Matanuska Maid until she retired in 1978. She enjoyed traveling, visiting relatives in Sweden and in the U.S. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Pioneers of Alaska, Teamsters Union and especially enjoyed her Sourdough Homemaker's Club and her pinochle club. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henning Benson, and her companion, Walt Spivey.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Arlene and Charlie Fox, grandson Jim Fox, grandson and wife, Roger and Christine Fox; her great-grandchildren, Zachary, Skyler and Charissa Fox all of Palmer; and numerous cousins in Sweden and the U.S. The family request that memorials may be sent ot St. John Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 774, Palmer, AK 99645. Arrangements for the family were made by Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.
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