Elsie Benson

Elsie Mae Benson, age 94, of Webster, WI, passed away Monday morning, February 29, 2016. Elsie was born in Bass Lake Twp., Washburn Co., WI, on January 23, 1922, a daughter of the late Wilhelmina “Minnie” (Ziemke) and William Wallace Parkhill. Her family lived in various places when she was a young child. In 1928, they were living by Lake 19 in Taylor County, WI, and in 1936, they moved to Oblong, IL. Elsie told many stories of her helping on the family farm including driving a team of horses in the farm fields. Elsie left the family farm when World War II started and went to work for Curtiss-Wright Airplane Division at Lambert Field in St. John (St. Louis County), Missouri. In late summer of 1944, she moved to Stillwater, MN. On October 5, 1945, Elsie married Lloyd J. Benson in Stillwater, MN. They moved to the Webster area in 1948 and built their permanent home on Pike Bend Rd., close to Clam River Dam. Their home was on a dirt road, with no electricity, and had to use kerosene lamps and an icebox for several years. Lloyd passed away September 23, 1984, and Elsie has resided in that same home until January of this year when she became a resident of the Continuing Care Center at Burnett Medical Center in Grantsburg. Elsie took great pleasure in being a 4-H Leader for many years. She was also a longtime member of the Happy Homemakers Club. She was a home day care provider for the many children who still fondly call her “Grandma Elsie.” She would create lessons for many of the children to get them ready for their first year of school, and school teachers knew which children were from “Grandma Elsie’s school.” Elsie greatly enjoyed cooking and baking. In fact, for most of her life she cooked and canned over a wood stove. Elsie had a great love for gardening. She had a huge vegetable garden, and did a lot of canning to provide for the family through the winter. She also loved tending her many flower beds around the yard. Her greatest love though, was for her family, and she adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren very, very much. Preceding her in death are her parents, William and Minnie Parkhill; her husband, Lloyd Benson; siblings and spouses: Ruth (Henry) Bradow, Kay (Earl) Rohda, William (Charlotte) Parkhill, Alvin (Eleanor) Parkhill, Alrex (Helen) Parkhill, and Rosceal (Harold) Hallen; brothers-in-law: Tom Montpetit, Bill Ritzer, Harold “Red” Tripp, and Gene Tillia; and styep-granddaughter, Nichole Caturia. Elsie is survived by her four sons and spouses: Wallace (Carol) Benson, Calvin Benson, Bruce (Ruth) Benson, and Stefan (Deb) Benson; grandchildren: Danyel (Mike) Olson, Eric (Caira) Benson, and Kristofor (fiancé Autumn) Benson, Brad Benson, Marilla Benson, (step-granddaughter) Bridget Meriweather, Zac (Lisa) Benson, Chelsie (Jay) Moss, and Ian McKay; and sixteen great-grandchildren. She is also survived by four sisters: Norma Montpetit, Florence Ritzer, Lila Tripp, and Darlene Tillia; as well as numerous nieces and nephews, and their families. Relatives and friends may call at Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Webster, WI, on Tuesday, March 8, 2016, beginning at 4:00 pm. A memorial service will be conducted at 7:30 pm, with Pastor Steve Ward officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Interfaith Caregivers of Burnett County, Inc., 7596 Hayden Lake Road, Danbury, WI 54830. Arrangements have been entrusted with Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Webster, WI. Online condolences may be expressed at http://www.swedberg-taylor.com/.