BENSON, Helleck Pedersen 1861-1946

PEDERSEN, BENSON, GUNDERSDATTER, HELLICKSEN, OLESEN, WILLIAMS, ANDERSON, SANDERSON, ECKERT, DECKER, SAMPSON, CHALUPNIK

Posted By: Deidre Badker (email)
Date: 10/29/2011 at 19:13:46

Hellek Pedersen Benson was born on March 25, 1861 at St Ansgar, Mitchell, Iowa to Sarah Gundersdatter and Peder Hellicksen. Unknown what happened to his father, but his mother married William Olesen of Meroa, Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa on March 10, 1866 and Helleck grew up with his mother and step-father, William Olesen, who did not adopt Helleck. The family lived on a farm southeast of Meroa.

Helleck was confirmed at the Rock Creek Lutheran Church, Meroa, Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa on April 23, 1876. The RCLC Records state his father's name as Peder Hellicksen, not sure why Helleck used the surname Benson.

Helleck is found in the 1870 and 1880 censuses at Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa living w/ his mother and stepfather:
1870: William Olesen 50, Sarah 30 and Alex (Helleck) Benson 9, George 1 , Laura 2 and a Henry Andersen age 30 working as a hired man.
1880: William Olieson 63, Sarah Olieson, 41 George Olieson 11 Millard Olieson 8 Laura Olieson 13, Peter Olieson 5, Carl Olieson 2, Halleck Peterson 19.
(Years later, William and Sarah's children changed their surname to Williamsen and then shortened that to Williams.)

Helleck married Joran Anderson on March 30, 1882 at Walsh, North Dakota. They had seven children:
Signora Cornelia Benson (born July 20, 1884 Grafton, Walsh, ND, married Gilbert Andrew Sanderson, died July 30, 1976 San Diego, California);

Peder Lawrence Benson (born June 20, 1886 Grafton, Walsh, ND, married Gunda Malena Sanderson who was Gilbert Sanderson's sister, died November 23, 1915 Edmore, Ramsey, North Dakota);

George Selmer Benson (born November 3, 1888 Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa or Rock Grove, Floyd, Iowa);

Karl Benson (born November 29, 1891 Cedar, Mitchell, IA or Rock Grove, Floyd, Iowa, married Bessie Lurass between 1910-1914 Ramsey, N.D., died January 9, 1924 Edmore, Ramsey, N.D.);
George Martin Benson (born November 30, 1895 Rock Grove, Floyd, Iowa);

Mabel Luella Benson (born November 10, 1897 Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa or Rock Grove, Floyd, IA, married an Eckert, then Aubrey C Decker, died April 1967 Inkster, Wayne, Michigan); and Winfred Ben Benson (born 1904 Aastad, Otter Tail, Minnesota, married Olive Sampson, then Emma Grace Chalupnik September 25, 1935 Mason City, Cerro Gordo, Iowa, died September 18, 1967 Waterloo, Black Hawk, Iowa).

Helleck and Joran and children can be found in the 1895 census at Rock Grove, Floyd, Iowa.

Next found in the 1900 census at Aastad, Otter Tail, Minnesota: Hellek P Benson 39, Joran Benson 36, Nora Benson 15, Lorance Benson 12, Salmer Benson 11, Carl Benson 8, George Benson 5, Mabel Benson 2.

Found in the 1910 census at Highland, Ramsey, North Dakota; farming; his sons farm with him. Son Peder Lawrence and family living near them in same census.
1910:Halleck P Benson 49, Julia Benson 47, Lawrence Benson 23, Carl Benson 18, George Benson 13, Mabel Benson 12, Winifred Benson 6.

Found in the 1915 census at Edmore, Ramsey, ND. 54 yrs. old.

Found in the 1920 census at Fancher, Edmore, Ramsey, N.D.: Helleck Benson, 59 years old from Iowa, occupation: carpenter who builds houses.
Wife was Julia Benson, age 57, from Minnesota and before that Norway. Son named George Benson, age 25, born in Iowa, a laborer by trade. and a son named Winfred age 16.

Finally found in the 1930 census at Edmore, Fancher, Ramsey, ND: Hellick Benson 69, Julia 66. Daughter Mabel Decker 23. A granddaughter Jane, age 5, born in Minnesota and a boy named Hillie (Hilton) age 1, born in North Dakota.

Helleck Pedersen Benson died on November 24, 1946 at Detroit, Wayne, Michigan where he and his wife had moved to be near their daughter.
His body was returned to Meroa, Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa for a funeral at the Rock Creek Lutheran Church and he was buried at the Rock Creek Lutheran Church Cemetery, Meroa, Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa on November 27, 1946.

(Note: Censuses transcribed as found, obvious spelling errors not corrected.)