Elaine Benson, 85, Minot and formerly of Van Hook, died on Saturday in a Minot assisted living facility. At the end of her life on earth she was lovingly cared for by her family, Caring Edge Hospice and the staff of Edgewood Vista.
Elaine Oletta Olson was born on July 14, 1935 in Stanley, ND. She was raised by her mother Dorothy Olson and they lived on her grandparents, Ole and Emma Olson’s, farm near Van Hook, ND, until approximately 1946 when the Garrison Diversion Project started. Elaine and her family relocated from the farm to New Town, ND. Following the death of Elaine’s grandmother, Emma, in 1949, she along with her mother, Dorothy, and grandfather, Ole, moved to Minot, ND.
Elaine attended the Van Hook Country School, Van Hook, ND until their move to Minot, ND at which time she attended the Minot Model School.
Elaine’s mother’s health declined and so she was admitted to San Haven for many years of heath treatments, this forced Elaine to end her schooling and start her working career. Elaine met wonderful people during her ritual travels and visits to San Haven. A local postman along with a friend Ardis would commute to San Haven to visit all their relatives. Elaine did not have siblings but she persevered with honest hard work and was deeply appreciative and respected those who guided her at the age of 16 struggling as a young woman in Minot with no family. She surrounded herself with wonderful friends that became life-long, truly honest and sincere friends. Elaine’s life lessons were drilled into her children as remembrance of how to live life.
At the age of 17 Elaine met a handsome young man at a USO dance. His name was Richard “Dick” Benson from Minot, ND. Richard was enlisted in the Navy in the Sea Bee’s Construction Battalion and stationed in Port Hueneme, California and then participated in the Korean Conflict. Elaine and Richard “Dick” danced into each other’s hearts and soon married on September 14, 1953. The newlyweds traveled to California and back until Dick was discharged from the Navy in 1955.
From this union came four children, Calleyne, Tim, Craig, and Jodi.
Elaine and Dick purchased a home in SW Minot and lived there for 57 years. Elaine and Dick moved to Edgewood Vista of Minot in August 2017 due to Elaine’s declining health.
She worked many jobs over the years to help provide extra income for the family. In her earlier years she worked at the Five and Dime on Minot’s Main Street, Minot Cleaners, Refrigeration Equipment Company, Johnson’s Plumbing & Heating, Kenway Motel, The Keg, Green Stamp Store, Magic City Hatchery, Ramstad Jr. High and Minot High School in the hot lunch programs, and Target for a short period of time. Elaine and Dick were never afraid of work, they worked very hard to provide for their family. They never had anything handed to them but they were very generous with their love, time, and comfort for whoever needed it.
Elaine always supported Dick and his adventures with work, fixing race cars, lake projects, hunting, and self-renovation house projects. She’d follow him around to help out and if she was in the house she’d keep a watchful eye out for him, but if he got out of eye sight she’d let out her famous neighborhood yelp “DICK,” and he’d come running.
Elaine and Dick had a great love for family. They supported and backed their family in any way they could. Because Elaine had no siblings and a small family unit growing up she tried to teach life lessons, give endless inspiration along with firm guidance and loving comfort to her own family and she loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren fiercely.
Elaine loved family and friends and would cook and bake so she could keep everyone satisfied and happy. Elaine loved to entertain and there were countless times she’d whip up meals at the drop of a dime for family, friends and neighbors after a night out dancing at the Moose! Elaine was always looking to clean something! Elaine made potato salad for the First Lutheran Church Stand for years and everyone loved her potato salad. She had the CLEANEST house and yes, yes you could literally eat off her floors. She wasn’t a real outdoors person but she loved her flowers in the flowerbed and potting flowers to surround her patio. And whatever task she did whether parenting, grand parenting, cooking, cleaning, gardening, she did it well.
Elaine was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandparent. Elaine and Richard assisted in the raising of their first grandchild, Tamara, which kept them very busy with all the school activities. She loved all her grandchildren and stayed busy over the years attending school functions for kids and grandkids and valued their visits, hugs, and pictures. The Benson house always had an open-door policy and it was open a lot. There was always unconditional love, food and a warm place to sleep. She worked so hard to make everyone happy and that in turn made her shine.
Elaine loved to shop and decorate for ALL the holidays. She was excited and enjoyed decorating their apartment and hallway space after moving to Edgewood. Everyone loved their decorations whether it was Halloween, Christmas, Easter, whatever the calendar brought for a holiday and kept her in the holiday spirit.
Elaine was a member of the First Lutheran Church, Moose Lodge and American Legion and is presently a member of God’s Kitchen and Cleaning Crew and the Angel’s Club.
Elaine is survived by her husband of 67 years, Richard Benson; children: Calleyne Benson (Gordon Ferguson) of Nocona, TX, Tim (Julie) Benson and Craig (Brenda) Benson, all of Minot, and Jodi (Rodney) Anderson of Glenburn; grandchildren: Tamara St. Clair, Breanna Benson (fiancé Brock Keller), Natosha (Chad) Gartner, Charlsie (Brad) Burud, Jersey (Kayla) Benson, Codi (Chris) Ehlers, and Colby (April) Anderson; great grandchildren: Aiden and Annika St. Clair, Carson, Amiya, and Chase Gartner, Jagger Swartout, Kenadee and Laikyn Burud, Jaren Benson, Hayes and Hudson Ehlers, Jace and Wyatt Anderson.
Elaine was preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy Olson; grandparents: Ole and Emma Olson; cousins: Duane and Ronald “Red” Sanderson; mother-in-law Margaret Ashmore, father-in-law Lyle Benson; brother-in-law Carroll Benson.
Thomas Family Funeral Home
Elaine Oletta Olson was born on July 14, 1935 in Stanley, ND. She was raised by her mother Dorothy Olson and they lived on her grandparents, Ole and Emma Olson’s, farm near Van Hook, ND, until approximately 1946 when the Garrison Diversion Project started. Elaine and her family relocated from the farm to New Town, ND. Following the death of Elaine’s grandmother, Emma, in 1949, she along with her mother, Dorothy, and grandfather, Ole, moved to Minot, ND.
Elaine attended the Van Hook Country School, Van Hook, ND until their move to Minot, ND at which time she attended the Minot Model School.
Elaine’s mother’s health declined and so she was admitted to San Haven for many years of heath treatments, this forced Elaine to end her schooling and start her working career. Elaine met wonderful people during her ritual travels and visits to San Haven. A local postman along with a friend Ardis would commute to San Haven to visit all their relatives. Elaine did not have siblings but she persevered with honest hard work and was deeply appreciative and respected those who guided her at the age of 16 struggling as a young woman in Minot with no family. She surrounded herself with wonderful friends that became life-long, truly honest and sincere friends. Elaine’s life lessons were drilled into her children as remembrance of how to live life.
At the age of 17 Elaine met a handsome young man at a USO dance. His name was Richard “Dick” Benson from Minot, ND. Richard was enlisted in the Navy in the Sea Bee’s Construction Battalion and stationed in Port Hueneme, California and then participated in the Korean Conflict. Elaine and Richard “Dick” danced into each other’s hearts and soon married on September 14, 1953. The newlyweds traveled to California and back until Dick was discharged from the Navy in 1955.
From this union came four children, Calleyne, Tim, Craig, and Jodi.
Elaine and Dick purchased a home in SW Minot and lived there for 57 years. Elaine and Dick moved to Edgewood Vista of Minot in August 2017 due to Elaine’s declining health.
She worked many jobs over the years to help provide extra income for the family. In her earlier years she worked at the Five and Dime on Minot’s Main Street, Minot Cleaners, Refrigeration Equipment Company, Johnson’s Plumbing & Heating, Kenway Motel, The Keg, Green Stamp Store, Magic City Hatchery, Ramstad Jr. High and Minot High School in the hot lunch programs, and Target for a short period of time. Elaine and Dick were never afraid of work, they worked very hard to provide for their family. They never had anything handed to them but they were very generous with their love, time, and comfort for whoever needed it.
Elaine always supported Dick and his adventures with work, fixing race cars, lake projects, hunting, and self-renovation house projects. She’d follow him around to help out and if she was in the house she’d keep a watchful eye out for him, but if he got out of eye sight she’d let out her famous neighborhood yelp “DICK,” and he’d come running.
Elaine and Dick had a great love for family. They supported and backed their family in any way they could. Because Elaine had no siblings and a small family unit growing up she tried to teach life lessons, give endless inspiration along with firm guidance and loving comfort to her own family and she loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren fiercely.
Elaine loved family and friends and would cook and bake so she could keep everyone satisfied and happy. Elaine loved to entertain and there were countless times she’d whip up meals at the drop of a dime for family, friends and neighbors after a night out dancing at the Moose! Elaine was always looking to clean something! Elaine made potato salad for the First Lutheran Church Stand for years and everyone loved her potato salad. She had the CLEANEST house and yes, yes you could literally eat off her floors. She wasn’t a real outdoors person but she loved her flowers in the flowerbed and potting flowers to surround her patio. And whatever task she did whether parenting, grand parenting, cooking, cleaning, gardening, she did it well.
Elaine was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandparent. Elaine and Richard assisted in the raising of their first grandchild, Tamara, which kept them very busy with all the school activities. She loved all her grandchildren and stayed busy over the years attending school functions for kids and grandkids and valued their visits, hugs, and pictures. The Benson house always had an open-door policy and it was open a lot. There was always unconditional love, food and a warm place to sleep. She worked so hard to make everyone happy and that in turn made her shine.
Elaine loved to shop and decorate for ALL the holidays. She was excited and enjoyed decorating their apartment and hallway space after moving to Edgewood. Everyone loved their decorations whether it was Halloween, Christmas, Easter, whatever the calendar brought for a holiday and kept her in the holiday spirit.
Elaine was a member of the First Lutheran Church, Moose Lodge and American Legion and is presently a member of God’s Kitchen and Cleaning Crew and the Angel’s Club.
Elaine is survived by her husband of 67 years, Richard Benson; children: Calleyne Benson (Gordon Ferguson) of Nocona, TX, Tim (Julie) Benson and Craig (Brenda) Benson, all of Minot, and Jodi (Rodney) Anderson of Glenburn; grandchildren: Tamara St. Clair, Breanna Benson (fiancé Brock Keller), Natosha (Chad) Gartner, Charlsie (Brad) Burud, Jersey (Kayla) Benson, Codi (Chris) Ehlers, and Colby (April) Anderson; great grandchildren: Aiden and Annika St. Clair, Carson, Amiya, and Chase Gartner, Jagger Swartout, Kenadee and Laikyn Burud, Jaren Benson, Hayes and Hudson Ehlers, Jace and Wyatt Anderson.
Elaine was preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy Olson; grandparents: Ole and Emma Olson; cousins: Duane and Ronald “Red” Sanderson; mother-in-law Margaret Ashmore, father-in-law Lyle Benson; brother-in-law Carroll Benson.
Thomas Family Funeral Home
Elaine Benson, 85, Minot and formerly of Van Hook, died on Saturday in a Minot assisted living facility. At the end of her life on earth she was lovingly cared for by her family, Caring Edge Hospice and the staff of Edgewood Vista.
Elaine Oletta Olson was born on July 14, 1935 in Stanley, ND. She was raised by her mother Dorothy Olson and they lived on her grandparents, Ole and Emma Olson’s, farm near Van Hook, ND, until approximately 1946 when the Garrison Diversion Project started. Elaine and her family relocated from the farm to New Town, ND. Following the death of Elaine’s grandmother, Emma, in 1949, she along with her mother, Dorothy, and grandfather, Ole, moved to Minot, ND.
Elaine attended the Van Hook Country School, Van Hook, ND until their move to Minot, ND at which time she attended the Minot Model School.
Elaine’s mother’s health declined and so she was admitted to San Haven for many years of heath treatments, this forced Elaine to end her schooling and start her working career. Elaine met wonderful people during her ritual travels and visits to San Haven. A local postman along with a friend Ardis would commute to San Haven to visit all their relatives. Elaine did not have siblings but she persevered with honest hard work and was deeply appreciative and respected those who guided her at the age of 16 struggling as a young woman in Minot with no family. She surrounded herself with wonderful friends that became life-long, truly honest and sincere friends. Elaine’s life lessons were drilled into her children as remembrance of how to live life.
At the age of 17 Elaine met a handsome young man at a USO dance. His name was Richard “Dick” Benson from Minot, ND. Richard was enlisted in the Navy in the Sea Bee’s Construction Battalion and stationed in Port Hueneme, California and then participated in the Korean Conflict. Elaine and Richard “Dick” danced into each other’s hearts and soon married on September 14, 1953. The newlyweds traveled to California and back until Dick was discharged from the Navy in 1955.
From this union came four children, Calleyne, Tim, Craig, and Jodi.
Elaine and Dick purchased a home in SW Minot and lived there for 57 years. Elaine and Dick moved to Edgewood Vista of Minot in August 2017 due to Elaine’s declining health.
She worked many jobs over the years to help provide extra income for the family. In her earlier years she worked at the Five and Dime on Minot’s Main Street, Minot Cleaners, Refrigeration Equipment Company, Johnson’s Plumbing & Heating, Kenway Motel, The Keg, Green Stamp Store, Magic City Hatchery, Ramstad Jr. High and Minot High School in the hot lunch programs, and Target for a short period of time. Elaine and Dick were never afraid of work, they worked very hard to provide for their family. They never had anything handed to them but they were very generous with their love, time, and comfort for whoever needed it.
Elaine always supported Dick and his adventures with work, fixing race cars, lake projects, hunting, and self-renovation house projects. She’d follow him around to help out and if she was in the house she’d keep a watchful eye out for him, but if he got out of eye sight she’d let out her famous neighborhood yelp “DICK,” and he’d come running.
Elaine and Dick had a great love for family. They supported and backed their family in any way they could. Because Elaine had no siblings and a small family unit growing up she tried to teach life lessons, give endless inspiration along with firm guidance and loving comfort to her own family and she loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren fiercely.
Elaine loved family and friends and would cook and bake so she could keep everyone satisfied and happy. Elaine loved to entertain and there were countless times she’d whip up meals at the drop of a dime for family, friends and neighbors after a night out dancing at the Moose! Elaine was always looking to clean something! Elaine made potato salad for the First Lutheran Church Stand for years and everyone loved her potato salad. She had the CLEANEST house and yes, yes you could literally eat off her floors. She wasn’t a real outdoors person but she loved her flowers in the flowerbed and potting flowers to surround her patio. And whatever task she did whether parenting, grand parenting, cooking, cleaning, gardening, she did it well.
Elaine was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandparent. Elaine and Richard assisted in the raising of their first grandchild, Tamara, which kept them very busy with all the school activities. She loved all her grandchildren and stayed busy over the years attending school functions for kids and grandkids and valued their visits, hugs, and pictures. The Benson house always had an open-door policy and it was open a lot. There was always unconditional love, food and a warm place to sleep. She worked so hard to make everyone happy and that in turn made her shine.
Elaine loved to shop and decorate for ALL the holidays. She was excited and enjoyed decorating their apartment and hallway space after moving to Edgewood. Everyone loved their decorations whether it was Halloween, Christmas, Easter, whatever the calendar brought for a holiday and kept her in the holiday spirit.
Elaine was a member of the First Lutheran Church, Moose Lodge and American Legion and is presently a member of God’s Kitchen and Cleaning Crew and the Angel’s Club.
Elaine is survived by her husband of 67 years, Richard Benson; children: Calleyne Benson (Gordon Ferguson) of Nocona, TX, Tim (Julie) Benson and Craig (Brenda) Benson, all of Minot, and Jodi (Rodney) Anderson of Glenburn; grandchildren: Tamara St. Clair, Breanna Benson (fiancé Brock Keller), Natosha (Chad) Gartner, Charlsie (Brad) Burud, Jersey (Kayla) Benson, Codi (Chris) Ehlers, and Colby (April) Anderson; great grandchildren: Aiden and Annika St. Clair, Carson, Amiya, and Chase Gartner, Jagger Swartout, Kenadee and Laikyn Burud, Jaren Benson, Hayes and Hudson Ehlers, Jace and Wyatt Anderson.
Elaine was preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy Olson; grandparents: Ole and Emma Olson; cousins: Duane and Ronald “Red” Sanderson; mother-in-law Margaret Ashmore, father-in-law Lyle Benson; brother-in-law Carroll Benson.
Thomas Family Funeral Home
Elaine Oletta Olson was born on July 14, 1935 in Stanley, ND. She was raised by her mother Dorothy Olson and they lived on her grandparents, Ole and Emma Olson’s, farm near Van Hook, ND, until approximately 1946 when the Garrison Diversion Project started. Elaine and her family relocated from the farm to New Town, ND. Following the death of Elaine’s grandmother, Emma, in 1949, she along with her mother, Dorothy, and grandfather, Ole, moved to Minot, ND.
Elaine attended the Van Hook Country School, Van Hook, ND until their move to Minot, ND at which time she attended the Minot Model School.
Elaine’s mother’s health declined and so she was admitted to San Haven for many years of heath treatments, this forced Elaine to end her schooling and start her working career. Elaine met wonderful people during her ritual travels and visits to San Haven. A local postman along with a friend Ardis would commute to San Haven to visit all their relatives. Elaine did not have siblings but she persevered with honest hard work and was deeply appreciative and respected those who guided her at the age of 16 struggling as a young woman in Minot with no family. She surrounded herself with wonderful friends that became life-long, truly honest and sincere friends. Elaine’s life lessons were drilled into her children as remembrance of how to live life.
At the age of 17 Elaine met a handsome young man at a USO dance. His name was Richard “Dick” Benson from Minot, ND. Richard was enlisted in the Navy in the Sea Bee’s Construction Battalion and stationed in Port Hueneme, California and then participated in the Korean Conflict. Elaine and Richard “Dick” danced into each other’s hearts and soon married on September 14, 1953. The newlyweds traveled to California and back until Dick was discharged from the Navy in 1955.
From this union came four children, Calleyne, Tim, Craig, and Jodi.
Elaine and Dick purchased a home in SW Minot and lived there for 57 years. Elaine and Dick moved to Edgewood Vista of Minot in August 2017 due to Elaine’s declining health.
She worked many jobs over the years to help provide extra income for the family. In her earlier years she worked at the Five and Dime on Minot’s Main Street, Minot Cleaners, Refrigeration Equipment Company, Johnson’s Plumbing & Heating, Kenway Motel, The Keg, Green Stamp Store, Magic City Hatchery, Ramstad Jr. High and Minot High School in the hot lunch programs, and Target for a short period of time. Elaine and Dick were never afraid of work, they worked very hard to provide for their family. They never had anything handed to them but they were very generous with their love, time, and comfort for whoever needed it.
Elaine always supported Dick and his adventures with work, fixing race cars, lake projects, hunting, and self-renovation house projects. She’d follow him around to help out and if she was in the house she’d keep a watchful eye out for him, but if he got out of eye sight she’d let out her famous neighborhood yelp “DICK,” and he’d come running.
Elaine and Dick had a great love for family. They supported and backed their family in any way they could. Because Elaine had no siblings and a small family unit growing up she tried to teach life lessons, give endless inspiration along with firm guidance and loving comfort to her own family and she loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren fiercely.
Elaine loved family and friends and would cook and bake so she could keep everyone satisfied and happy. Elaine loved to entertain and there were countless times she’d whip up meals at the drop of a dime for family, friends and neighbors after a night out dancing at the Moose! Elaine was always looking to clean something! Elaine made potato salad for the First Lutheran Church Stand for years and everyone loved her potato salad. She had the CLEANEST house and yes, yes you could literally eat off her floors. She wasn’t a real outdoors person but she loved her flowers in the flowerbed and potting flowers to surround her patio. And whatever task she did whether parenting, grand parenting, cooking, cleaning, gardening, she did it well.
Elaine was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandparent. Elaine and Richard assisted in the raising of their first grandchild, Tamara, which kept them very busy with all the school activities. She loved all her grandchildren and stayed busy over the years attending school functions for kids and grandkids and valued their visits, hugs, and pictures. The Benson house always had an open-door policy and it was open a lot. There was always unconditional love, food and a warm place to sleep. She worked so hard to make everyone happy and that in turn made her shine.
Elaine loved to shop and decorate for ALL the holidays. She was excited and enjoyed decorating their apartment and hallway space after moving to Edgewood. Everyone loved their decorations whether it was Halloween, Christmas, Easter, whatever the calendar brought for a holiday and kept her in the holiday spirit.
Elaine was a member of the First Lutheran Church, Moose Lodge and American Legion and is presently a member of God’s Kitchen and Cleaning Crew and the Angel’s Club.
Elaine is survived by her husband of 67 years, Richard Benson; children: Calleyne Benson (Gordon Ferguson) of Nocona, TX, Tim (Julie) Benson and Craig (Brenda) Benson, all of Minot, and Jodi (Rodney) Anderson of Glenburn; grandchildren: Tamara St. Clair, Breanna Benson (fiancé Brock Keller), Natosha (Chad) Gartner, Charlsie (Brad) Burud, Jersey (Kayla) Benson, Codi (Chris) Ehlers, and Colby (April) Anderson; great grandchildren: Aiden and Annika St. Clair, Carson, Amiya, and Chase Gartner, Jagger Swartout, Kenadee and Laikyn Burud, Jaren Benson, Hayes and Hudson Ehlers, Jace and Wyatt Anderson.
Elaine was preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy Olson; grandparents: Ole and Emma Olson; cousins: Duane and Ronald “Red” Sanderson; mother-in-law Margaret Ashmore, father-in-law Lyle Benson; brother-in-law Carroll Benson.
Thomas Family Funeral Home
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