Mae F. Benson

Mae F. Benson, age 87 of Decorah, Iowa, died Friday, November 10, 2006 at her home following a brief illness. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at Decorah Lutheran Church by Rev. James Glesne, Rev. Bryan Robertson and Rev. Allen Vik, with burial in Phelps Cemetery in Decorah. Friends may call from 4:00-7:00 P.M. Tuesday, November 14, 2006 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, where there will be a prayer service at 7 P.M. Friends may also call after 10:00 A.M. Tuesday at the church. Memorials may be directed to Winneshiek Medical Center Hospice, 901 Montgomery Street, Decorah, Iowa 52101 Mae Frances Benson was born May 16, 1919, in Decorah, Iowa, the daughter of Albert and Florence (Dinger) Lien. She attended Winneshiek County Country Schools in Pleasant Township. She was united in marriage to Bennie C. Benson on August 1, 1943, in the Glenwood Lutheran Church Parsonage in rural Decorah by Rev. Alfred E. Bredeson. This union was blessed with three daughters: Mary, Beverly and Nancy. In her early years, Mae was a homemaker/caregiver to children and families in the rural community. She was also known to work at the Nehi Bottling Company in Decorah. After starting her family, Mae was a homemaker. She was a member of Decorah Lutheran Church and the Church Circle. She enjoyed gardening, especially growing strawberries and rhubarb. She loved to sing hymns and dance to polkas. Mae died Friday, November 10, 2006, at her home in Decorah following a brief illness at the age of 87 years. Those left to cherish her memory include her husband of over 63 years, Bennie of Decorah; three daughters, Mary Benson of Decorah, Beverly (Roger) Roed of Decorah, and Nancy Benson of Cedar Rapids, IA. Eight grandchildren include: Ryan Schall of Springfield, MO, Dawn (Christopher) Fenneman of Carpentersville, IL, Darren (Erin) Rance of West Union, IA, Bruce (Tina Marie) Michels of Hesper, IA, Tina Mae (Joe) Langreck of Lawler, IA, Daniel Michels of Decorah, Tammy Michels of Calmar, IA. and Dylan Roed of Decorah, IA. Ten great-grandchildren including: Zebediah Fenneman, Mariah, Mallory and Cameron Rance, Bryce, Maddison and Robert Michels, Luke Langreck, Alan and Tiffany Michels. One sister, LeVerne (Jasper) Rogen of Cedar Rapids, IA and a brother, Edgar Stinson of Decorah. Mae was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Raymond, Milton and Robert Lien and a sister, Dorothy Strike.