Edith Benson was the daughter of Elizabeth Gallaher and Ezra Taft Benson.

She married William Brigham Parkinson Sr. January 27, 1886 in Logan, Utah.She was his third wife. They had ten children: E. Benson Parkinson, Don Benson Parkinson(1), Don Benson Parkinson(2), Fred Benson Parkinson, Ezra Benson Parkinson, Wallace Benson Parkinson, John Benson Parkinson, Veda Benson Parkinson, Karma Benson Parkinson and one more living child.

Daughter Karma says: "Mother was a very warm, friendly person, but shy. She had lots of friends. People liked to be with her. I loved to sit and listen when her friends came to talk with her. . . .

"There were always friends and relatives visiting in our home, sitting around the old coal heater in our living room. My half brothers, who were married and lived out of town, always came to visit mother when they came home. She had a keen sense of humor and enjoyed a good joke. My brothers always saved their jokes to tell her."

Edith always had a little saying for every occasion that she had learned from her mother. When daughter Karma got married she said, ‘Now remember, Karma, stand up to the manger, hay or no hay.' We often thought of that because the time came when there was not much hay, but we always managed somehow or someone would come to our rescue, so we never really suffered. During the great depression Karma often longed for some of the little extras.

"When [a family situation later in life] became quite a trial for Karma, Mother said, ‘It's just a test the Lord has for you to see what kind of stuff you are made of.' And when I thought that I had more troubles than I could stand, she would say, ‘The back is always made for the burden, you will make it.' This advice really helped me over the rough spots.

Edith loved to use cliches. These were used often by her. . . ‘You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.' ‘I'll put a bug in his ear.' ‘That's the word with the bark on it.' ‘I couldn't see for looking.' ‘As plain as the nose on your face.' ‘As cute as a bug's ear.

Edith was sick for 15 months, dying at the age of 57.