Frances was born in northeast Minneapolis and moved as an infant to Section 31, Oneka Township, Hugo where her folk's opened a farm near Bald Eagle Lake. She was their third oldest child and their last child born in the city. Frances was one of twelve children.

(Her parents John & Ellen Dorr may have already relocated from the city before her birth. As mother Ellen's time approached, she could have traveled 20 miles back into the city to birth her child (Frances) near her own mother and family. Frances was born in her parent's old northeast Minneapolis neighborhood and baptized at nearby St. Anthony Padua Church. Some histories suggest the Dorr's relocated to Oneka Township, Hugo, Minnesota in 1883, which would be one year prior to Frances' birth, however she was born and baptized in Minneapolis.)

She married next door rural neighbor Herman Benson in 1906 and they raised seven children on a farm on the northeast shore of Bald Eagle Lake where she lived continuously from marriage until death. After celebrating fifty years of married life in 1956, Frances and Herman died a few months apart in the same section of the same township of their youth.

Frances, known by her nickname Francie, was a healthy person her whole life, a hard worker, kind but tough, 5'5", nice looking with early white hair and she was a wonderful host. She personally operated the boat house and rental facility at the lakeshore near her farmhome besides managing her other duties as farmwife and mother. Herman tended to the farm. Her boys founded and operated the Benson Airport on the east edge of their property alongside Hwy 61 north of White Bear Lake in addition to their farmwork. The Benson's were also well known dog trainers and showman.

Son Roger "Babe" Benson, a fighter pilot in WWII, was killed in action in the South Pacific.

There are great summer memories of planes, boats, horses, cars and people at Dorr family parties hosted by Francie at her Bald Eagle Lake farm. Neighbors and other personages from Bald Eagle and White Bear Lake attended the gatherings creating quite a crowd. Lots of fun.

The Benson farm is now sold and the land is built up with several large single family homes. The 68 acre Benson Airport is still an airport. written by grand nephew Gregory Dorr