Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Benson

Elizabeth Ann (Betty) Benson was born on August 25, 1924 to Ruth Agnes Holmquist and George Otler Swenson, in Providence Township, Dawson, MN. She was the youngest of 3 children and grew up on the family farm. She attended Windy Hill District #38, a one room school house, from 1st thru 8th grade. She graduated from Dawson, MN High School in 1942 and then attended the Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis, taking the Private Secretarial Course.

Elizabeth worked for Northwest Airlines at Holeman Field in St. Paul where they fabricated DC-3 airplanes into war planes. She was the private secretary to the purchasing agent for 2 ½ years. She later worked as the private secretary to the parts manager of Frigidaire. She was a secretary at South Junior High in Moorhead and also for the Thief River Falls, MN school system. Later she worked for Minnesota Retail Merchants. Her most rewarding “job”, however, was as wife and mother.

Betty was united in marriage to Lyle F. Benson on Oct. 18, 1947. They were married for 58 years before Lyle passed away on April 28, 2006.

Her faith, family, and friends were important to Betty. She had style and grace along with a competitive spirit. She was talented in many ways and enjoyed sewing, knitting and quilting. She was a great cook and made the best orange rolls, Grandma buns and apple crisp. Betty was known for her kind and gentle nature and also as a serious competitor at bridge, whist, dominos and bingo. She was an active member of First Lutheran Church, Fine Arts Club and Northside Quilters, and enjoyed volunteering at the Scandinavian Festival where she could celebrate her Swedish heritage.

The past several years, Betty resided at Touchmark and Bethany on 42nd where she was surrounded by many friends and excellent staff. Her final few months were at Bethany on 42nd. Betty passed away peacefully on November 9, 2016 under Hospice care.

Elizabeth is survived by her son, Michael (Jan) Benson, daughter, Diane Syverson and grandson, Patrick Benson, all of Fargo; sister, Margaret Young, Lincoln, NE; step-grandchildren, Tobie Cornejo (Sam Coffin), New York, NY, Chris Cornejo (Melanie), Minneapolis, MN, Liz Cornejo, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Beth (Steve) Leonard, Chanhassen, MN and Todd (Meg) Berreth, Durham, NC; step-great grandchildren, John and Ella Coffin, Kate and Jack Berreth, Oliver and Elise Cornejo, numerous cousins, nephews and nieces, Godchildren and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lyle; parents; brother, Gordon, and son-in-law, John Syverson.

Memorials are preferred to First Lutheran Church, Hospice of the Red River Valley or a charity of choice.