Esther M. Benson

Esther Mildred Benson, age 97, passed away Sunday, March 11, 2018 in Whitehall.  She was born January 16, 1921 in Whitehall to Emil and Gunhill (Ling) Anderson.

She picked asparagus for Velo Burmeister, picked apples for Jim Bush and Dan Aebig, and picked peaches and apples for Calvin Reames.  She also operated a fruit market between Shelby and New Era between 1966-1975.  She bought a piece of property near Kurdziels in Rothbury but later sold it and bought a house next to her son, Ron and lived there for the rest of her life.  She helped raise her grandchildren, Angelina and Jodie and also took care of Ron's wife, Luann.  

Esther loved gardening.  She also was an avid reader and would read any kind of book even a nutrition book.  She always kept herself busy and had a good attitude.

She is survived by her daughters, Sally Smith of Shelby and Donna (Roy “Scott”) McGraw of Montague and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her sons, Ronald, Frank “Cowboy” and Jim Benson; daughter, Bonnie Domin; her former husband, Kenneth Benson; her parents; brothers, Junior “Andy”, Orville, Walter, Melvin and Everett Anderson; sisters, Melvina, Ethel, Irene, Freda and her twin sister, Elaine Dennison.

Visitation will be held Saturday, March 17th beginning at 10 a.m. until the funeral service at 11 a.m. at Harris Funeral Home in Shelby.  Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Holton in the spring.  Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington DC,  20090-6011.

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