Norma Benson

Norma Jean (Loyer) Benson, 79, died Nov. 17, 2010, at Providence Alaska Medical Center.

A service will be at 1 p.m. today at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Palmer.

She was born March 30, 1931, in Harrisville, Mich., to Joseph and Naomi Loyer.

The family moved to Alaska in 1935 as original colonists of the Matanuska Valley. She graduated from Palmer High School in 1949 with National Honor Society membership and an American Legion award. She was a graduate of the REA Accounting Course and studied Alaska real estate law at the University of Alaska.

She met and married Richard "Dick" R. Benson in 1947. They were married for 41 years.

In 1946, she worked at the Koslosky's Department Store as a grocery cashier, handled bookkeeping duties at the Copper Center Roadhouse in 1949, and owned the Dick Benson Amusement Co. until 1990. She retired after 31 years with the Matanuska Electric Association in the engineering department.

She received numerous awards for volunteering her services including 31 years as president of the Matanuska Valley Credit Union Board. She was a member of the Alaska State Fair Board, Little League Board of Directors, Pioneers of Alaska, Women of the Moose, Emblem Club (Elks) and Colony Kids, and served on the board of directors for the Mountain Rose Homeowners Association.

Her hobbies included golfing, skiing, biking, road trips, shopping and grandchild Dalton. She earned her private pilot's license in 1957. She enjoyed her monthly pinochle games with her friends in Palmer.

She was an avid traveler; the only continent she missed was Antarctica, and she had made numerous trips on the Alaska Highway. She was always busy and doing something, as each day was an adventure.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Richard Benson; and brother, Gary Loyer.

Survivors include children and spouses, Deana and James "Spud" Johnson of Anchorage, and Donald and Sharon Benson of Palmer; grandchild, Dalton Benson; sisters, Dorothy Hubbard, Rita Loyer and Janice Svoboda; brothers, James, Victor, Kenneth, Fred, Rick and Dennis "Butch" Loyer, all of Palmer; and too many nieces and nephews to count.

She was the matriarch of the family and will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Palmer Historical Society, the Colony House Museum where she conducted tours, or a charity of the donor's choice in her name. Or volunteer and become involved as she did throughout her life.