GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE Thursday, April 15, 2004

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Cora M. Benson

CHINOOK -- Cora M. (Emerson) Benson, 76, a Chinook homemaker, died of natural causes Tuesday at a Havre care center.

Visitation is 7 to 9 this evening at Edwards

Funeral Home in Chinook. Graveside services are 9 a.m. Friday in Harlem Cemetery, with a memorial service at 11 a.m. at the Chinook High School gym.

Survivors include her husband, Russell Benson of Havre; daughters Barbara Weber of Denver and Betty Billmayer of Chinook; a son, Bruce Benson of Tallahassee, Fla.; a stepson, Bernard Bell of England; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

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HAVRE DAILY NEWS Thursday, April 15, 2004

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CORA BENSON

Benson

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.

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THE BLAINE CO. JOURNAL NEWS-OPINION Wednesday, April 21, 2004

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Cora Benson

Corn M. Benson, 76, passed away from natural causes on Tuesday, April 13, 2004, in the Northern Montana Care Center in Havre. Graveside services were held at 9:00 am. on Friday, April 16, in the Harlem Cemetery and a Memorial Service followed at 11:00 am. on Friday in the Chinook High School Gymnasium, Memorials may be sent to one’s choice. Arrangements were by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.

Cora Mae Emerson, beloved only child of Miles and Jennie (James) Emerson, was born on November 24, 1927 in Bracken, Sask. Her family moved to the Big Flat area and she attended grade school at Loring. She graduated from Turner High School in 1946, then attended Northern Montana College in Havre where she obtained her teaching certificate. She then taught school at Cleveland (south of Chinook).

On March 25, 1948 she married Russell Benson in Havre and one year later they welcomed their first child, son Bruce. Daughters Barbara and Betty followed. During those years the family lived in Harlem and the children received their education in the Harlem schools. Their children were all grown and out on their own when Russell and Cora moved to Chinook in 1972.

Although being a wife and mother were the most important parts of Cora’s life, she did work at various jobs when they lived in Harlem (including delivering milk for the Vita Rich Dairy). However, working alongside Russell in his cattle buying business was the job she came to love thc most.

In her later years the joy of her life were her five granddaughters—Lacey and Kaitlin Benson, and Shannon (VanVoast), Sheri and Stephanie Billmayer, plus her step granddaughter and grandson, Samantha and Christopher Bell, both of EngIand.

She loved traveling to Denver and Florida every winter, plus their trips to England. In 2001 Cora and Russell moved to the Sunrise Bluff Estates in Fort Benton. and her health declined over the last few years. She was so pleased to be a part of Shannon’s wedding last August, and was thrilled to have most of her family together. Because of her poor health, Cora and Russell moved to Havre in December of 2003.

She’s survived by her husband of 56 years. Russell Benson of Havre: children, Bruce (Terrie) Benson of Tallahassee. FL. Barbara (Stan) Weber of Denver. CO and 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: plus several nieces and nephews and many wonderful friends.

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

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