Carl E. Benson (1922-2014)

BENSON, GILPATRICK, SPIES, BINKLEY

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 10/25/2014 at 13:18:17

Obituary From Adams Soderstrum Funeral Home, Story County, Iowa.

Carl E. Benson was born July 3, 1922 to William Curtis and Anna (Gilpatrick) Benson in Anita, Iowa. He served in the United States Marine Corp during World War II. Carl married Marjorie Ruth Spies on April 10, 1943. Beginning in 1945, Carl owned and operated seven movie theaters in southwest Iowa. In 1953, he began working for Sinclair Oil in Atlantic and in 1956, worked as a purchasing agent for Raymond Concrete Pile Company of New York in Monrovia, Liberia. In 1957, he purchased and operated Cuyuan Oil Company in Brainerd, Minnesota which included ten stations and bulk oil sales. He owned the Chevrolet and Buick dealership in Emmetsburg, Iowa in 1965 and then in 1970, bought Allen Motor Buick in Ames, changing the name to Benson Motors, Inc. Benson Motors was well known for the sponsorship of the Iowa State Men's Basketball Shoot 5 for 5. He was a devoted fan and supporter of Iowa State. Carl was a highly respected businessman in the community and throughout his life, his generosity helped many who were in need.

Carl was a member of St. Cecilia Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, the Ames Moose Lodge, the Ames Elks Lodge and Ames American Legion Post #37. He was active in the Iowa Auto Dealers Association, the Ames Chamber of Commerce, Ames Golf and Country Club, the Order of the Knoll at Iowa State University and the Tequesta Country Club, Tequesta, Florida. Carl was honored with the Carnegie Medal of Honor Award at the age of 13. Industrialist Andrew Carnegie started the hero fund in 1904 after being inspired by rescue stories. Awards are given only to those a commission feels risked their life to an extraordinary degree in attempting to save the life of another.

Carl passed away at 92 years of age on October 11, 2014, surrounded by his loving family.

Carl is survived by his wife of 71 years, Marjorie Benson, of Ames; his four children, Curtis (Judith) Benson, of Ankeny, Georgianna (Bob) Binkley, of Ames, Robert (Ann) Benson, of Ames and James (Martha) Benson, of Snowmass Village, Colorado; eleven grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren and one great great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Paul Benson, of Livermore, California.

Burial will be at the cemetery in Atlantic, Iowa.

OCT 20 A Mass of Christian Burial 10:30AM
St. Cecilia Catholic Church
2900 Hoover Ave.
Ames, IA, US, 50010

http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/
 

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