Janet Arlene Benson

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Janet Arlene (Williams) Benson of Pine City, MN, on April 13, 2018, at the age of 78.  She was surrounded by family in flesh and in Spirit, at Grantsburg Medical Center in Grantsburg, WI.  Janet (mom) has put up a strong fight for many years with respiratory distress/COPD.

Janet was born Janet Arlene Williams, to Thomas Samuel & Harriet Matilda (Metcalf) Williams. June 6, 1939. She was born in Rochester, Pennsylvania.  When she was a young child her family moved to Arizona, than onto California where she graduated from Upland High school in California. Shortly after graduation she met her husband, Leslie Benson who was currently stationed there in the Marine Corp. After their marriage on April 25, 1959  as the first couple to be married at Brethren in Christ Church in Upland, California they took the leap of faith and moved to Minnesota to start their family, on Les’s family farm 5 miles Southeast of Pine City in Rock Creek Township. Here is where they created a wonderful way of life for their 3 children, Scott, Marie & Brenda.

April 25, 2018, Les & Janet would have celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary.

Our wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandma, friend and beautiful woman inside and out and will be known for always being there for her family and friends. Always a caretaker, making sure everyone had what they needed before herself. So many holiday meals where the guests would be half way done with their meals before she finally would sit down and enjoy her few bites.

We kids have many memories of summer vacations out to California to see family. We loved our visits and getting to know our uncles, aunts, and cousins. We always referred to them as our “California Family”.

Mom, loved to be outside. In her earlier years she was helping on the farm and in the fields with her husband. Both Les & Janet worked outside the home. Dad worked at the Gas Company and mom worked as a Dietary Cook at the nursing home in Pine City.

She kept her house warm and inviting and always had time for a cup of coffee and she could work on the farm and raise a family on little to no sleep. She was a believer in hard work.

In 1990, she took on her most cherished role as grandma, and boy were her grandkids the light in her eyes. We got to experience a whole different side of our mom. She always said, “Grandkids are different than your own kids”. So true. She went on to become grandma to: Kevin, Holly, Rebecca, Jacob, Jo, Nessa, and great-grandma to: Axel, Abel, Evelyn, Alec & new baby girl (Vivian) coming in June. Those grandkids adored their grandma Jan. Many memories of going to the farm, for countless holidays and visits.

She is survived by her husband Leslie of Pine City; children: Scott (Jules) Benson of Chisago City, Marie (Mike) Schulz of Pine City, Brenda (Pat) Collins of Pine City; sister Patricia Rees of Upland Calif; sisters-in-law Carol Benson of Pine City and MaryAnn Williams of California; grandchildren: Kevin, Holly (Travis), Rebecca (Stormy), Jacob (Megan), Jo, Nessa and 4 & a half great-grandchildren; nephews and nieces (close and far away).

She was preceded in death by her siblings Phyllis, Peggy, Tom; parents Thomas & Harriet; brothers-in-law Bob Benson & Roger McDonald.

Mom’s wishes were quite simple. She wanted to be cremated and never wanted a service. She always thought flowers for her, should be bought when she was alive on this earth to enjoy in person.

Thank you to the staff at Grantsburg Medical Center for helping us through this difficult time.

Though you are not here in our sights, you will forever be in our hearts. “Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure; you are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure”

Love, Your Family on Earth & in Heaven.

Funeral Arrangements are entrusted to:  Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City, Swanson Chapel
FuneralAndCremationService.com