Thelma (Brannan) BENSON

HILL, BENSON, BRANNAN, INGRAHAM

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/19/2006 at 23:01:48

Thelma Benson, 97, of Clarion, died Tuesday, May 15, 2001, at USA Health Care Center, Clarion. Funeral services were held Saturday, May 19th at the United Methodist Church, Clarion. Rev. Charles Kellogg officiated at the 11 a.m. service. Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion. Willim Funeral Home, Clarion, was in charge of arrangements. Thelma Brannan was born August 18, 1903, on a farm near Rowan, the daughter of James Henry Brannan and Louisa Esther (Ingraham) Brannan. Her parents farmed in the Dows and Rowan area. She graduated from Dows High School as Salutatorian of her class on May 31, 1923. She attended summer school at Ellsworth College in Iowa Falls and taught a short time in Blaine Township. She was baptized into the Lutheran Church. Thelma Brannan and Louis Benson were united in marriage at Eagle Grove on November 27, 1924. Their first home was on a farm west of Eagle Grove and then they farmed in the Wright County area until they retired from farming and moved to Clarion in 1959. She worked as a cook for Bud Gannon at the Hotel Moore in Clarion, and later worked for Lolly Palmer, Bea Peyton, and Ann Groves. Her husband, Louis, died April 20, 1981. She was a devoted member of the United Methodist Church and was a member of the UMW and Circle Group. She will be remembered for her many crochet and handwork projects created for family and friends and donation to church bazaars. She had made the USA Health Care Center her home since December of 1995, when she was unable to be in her own home. Thelma was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two grandsons, Larry and Michael Hill; two sisters, Clare and Deone; and one brother, Merle. She is survived by two sons, James and wife, Zella of Goose Creek, South Carolina, Roger and wife, Linda of Somers, Montana; one daughter, Dorla Hill and husband, Myron of Clarion; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; many nieces and nephews.

© Wright County Monitor 2001