CORA BENSON obituary

CHINOOK - Cora Mae Benson, 76, died at a Havre care center due to natural causes on Tuesday, April 13, 2004.

A graveside service will be held Friday at 9 a.m. in the Harlem Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at the Chinook High School Gymnasium at 11 a.m.

Cora was

born to Miles and Jennie (James) Emerson on Nov. 24, 1927, in Bracken, Saskatchewan. Her family moved to the "big flat" area and she attended school in Loring and graduated from Turner High School in 1946. She attended Northern Montana College in Havre and obtained her teaching certificate. Cora taught school at Cleveland, south of Chinook.

On March 25, 1948, she married Russell Benson in Havre. They made their home in Harlem. Russell and Cora moved to Chinook in 1972. Being a wife and mother were the most important parts of Cora's life. She worked at various jobs while they lived in Harlem, including delivering milk for Vita Rich Dairy, but working alongside Russell in his cattle buying business was the job she came to love the most.

In later years, the joy of her life were her five granddaughters. She loved traveling to Denver and Florida every winter and also traveling to England. In 2001 Cora and Russell moved to Sunrise Bluff Estates in Fort Benton. Cora's health had declined over the last few years. She was so pleased to be a part of her granddaughter Shannon's wedding last August to Alan VanVoast of Turner and was thrilled to have almost all her family together, including her stepson and daughter-in-law Bernard and Mary Bell from England. Cora's poor health was the reason for their move to Havre in December 2003.

Cora was preceded in death by her parents and stepmother, Peggy Rasmussen.

Survivors include her husband of 56 years, Russell Benson of Havre; children, Bruce (Terrie) Benson of Tallahassee, Fla., Barbara (Stan) Weber of Denver, Colo., Betty (Mark) Billmayer of Chinook; stepson, Bernard (Mary) Bell of England; stepbrothers, Don and Bob Rasmussen, both of Harlem; six granddaughters; one grandson; one great-granddaughter, several nieces and nephews; and many wonderful friends.

Memorials may be sent to one's choice.

Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.