Helen Irene Benson

Helen Irene Benson, youngest child to Emily Jane Foy and Gust William Forberg, was born on April 25, 1920 at home on the family farm near Clay Center, Nebraska. She passed away Thursday, January 19th at Good Samaritan Nursing Home where she had lived since her last surgery. At the age of two, Helen took second place in a baby contest for which she received $10, but lost the money during the Depression when the banks went broke. Helen graduated solitarian with honors from Clay Center High School in 1937. After high school she attended college and became a teacher at several rural schools near Clay Center and also at Sutton Elementary. On June 14, 1945 Helen married Carl Howard Benson and moved to his family farm near Ong, Nebraska. Helen and Howard had three daughters: Carol Ann, Suzanne Kay and Barbara Jo. She enjoyed working on the farm and raising her three daughters. Helen was baptized and confirmed at the Emmanuel Country Church near Clay Center. Helen was a member of the Federated Church and Eastern Star Lodge No. 49. The Order of the Easter Star No. 54 of Sutton. After Howard passed away in 1969, she moved to Sutton and worked at the Skyliner Restaurant but moved back to the family farm in 1974 when her new house was finished. Helen liked her job at the restaurant as she enjoyed talking to people and knowing what was going on in the community. She got such pleasure in working at the restaurant where she worked into her 70s. Helen, however, would always take time off when her daughters were around or for the birth of her four grandchildren, Michelle Mellott Mueller, Cynthia Mellott Miles, Angela Yost, and Eric Yost. In fact Helen travelled to Paris in order to take care of her third grandchild Angela and she often travelled to Superior for holidays or when Cynthia or Michelle were involved in various activities. Her last trip was to West Linn, OR for the marriage of her grandson Eric. On the way home she told Barbara that she wished they were flying the other direction as she had had so much fun at the wedding she wanted to do it over again. In 2006 she regretfully left the farm and moved to Superior, Nebraska to be closer to her daughter Carol. In 2009 she had surgery and moved into Good Samaritan for additional care. Helen is survived by her three daughters: Carol Ann Mellott of Superior, Suzanne Yost of West Linn, Oregon, and Barbara of Tigard, Oregon; sons-in-law, Donn Mellott and Richard Yost; four grandchildren Michelle Mueller of Superior, Nebraska, and husband, Nathan; Cynthia Miles of Grand Island, Nebraska and husband Mitch, Angela Yost of Denver, Colorado, and Eric Yost of Portland, Oregon, and wife Stephanie Grompe; and three great grandchildren: Trev and Ashtyn Mueller and Josie Yost. Helen was a kind and loving wife and mother devoted to her three daughters and their families. Though reserved, she was highly respected and loved by all who knew her. Funeral servioes will be held Monday 1:30 PM January 23, 2012 at the Federated Church in Sutton, NE. Pastor Eric Biehl will be officiating. Burial will be held in the Ong Cemetery, Ong, NE. Condolences may be sent to the family at wmsfh.com. Williams Funeral Home of Superior, NE is in charge of the arrangements. Williams Funeral Home Superior Chapel 402 879 3123 [email protected]