Barbara Benson
d. May 6, 2022
Barb Benson, 81 of Granite Falls, passed away on Friday, May 6, 2022, at the Granite Falls Health Care Center. Memorial services will be held on Friday, May 20th at 11:00 am at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Granite Falls. Visitation will be held Thursday, May 19th from 5 to 7pm at the Wing-Bain Funeral Home and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Friday.
Barbara Ann Benson was the first born of four children to Dr. Carl and Doris (Hansen/Schempf) Lundell on February 20th, 1941, in Minneapolis, MN. She grew up in Granite Falls where she learned how to swim in the Minnesota River at the Memorial Park Beach and how to ice skate on the Minnesota River adjacent to the back yard of the Schempf/Lundell home on Prentice Street. She was baptized in the Lutheran faith and confirmed at the St. Paul Lutheran Church. Barb graduated from Granite Falls High School in 1959 where she had been the Homecoming Queen that year. On June 10, 1962, Barb married Paul Benson at Granite Falls Lutheran Church.
Barb attended Gustavus Adolphus College for two years and then transferred to the University of Minnesota where she graduated with a teaching degree in 1964. Barb taught at White Bear Lake, Olivia, Renville County West and in Melbourne, Australia.
Barb loved history and was an active member of the Granite Falls Historical Society and several other Historical Societies. She was also a driver for Living At Home/Block Nurse Program, very involved in the Granite Falls Riverfront Revitalization organization and the Yes House. She taught Sunday School, sang in the church choir and played bells in the bell choir. Barb was active in LWML, AAUW, the Lady Slipper Garden Club, and Bridge Club. Barb would never say no to anybody and could be counted on to pitch in and help with whatever needed doing. In her spare time, she loved to read and take walks. She was a very active cheerleader for Paul, Tom and Emily's sports and the grandkids' activities, and all Granite Falls sports. She avidly followed the Twins and U of Minn Gopher sports. Barb enjoyed life long friendships with people she met throughout her entire life. Universally, she is remembered by all as one of the nicest person they ever met.
Barb is survived by her husband Paul, her son Tom (Tammy) Benson, her daughter Emily (Tony) Breck and her 6 grandchildren Paul, Delia, Calvin, Anna, Alex and Elisabeth, her two brothers Rich (Susan)Lundell of Scottsdale, Az and Carl (Joan) Lundell of Granite Falls, her sister Mary (Phil) Kelly of Granite Falls, and numerous nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. Barb was preceded in death by her parents Carl and Doris Lundell.
Memorials are preferred to Living At Home/Block Nurse Program or Granite Falls Library or an organization of your choice.
Barbara Ann Benson was the first born of four children to Dr. Carl and Doris (Hansen/Schempf) Lundell on February 20th, 1941, in Minneapolis, MN. She grew up in Granite Falls where she learned how to swim in the Minnesota River at the Memorial Park Beach and how to ice skate on the Minnesota River adjacent to the back yard of the Schempf/Lundell home on Prentice Street. She was baptized in the Lutheran faith and confirmed at the St. Paul Lutheran Church. Barb graduated from Granite Falls High School in 1959 where she had been the Homecoming Queen that year. On June 10, 1962, Barb married Paul Benson at Granite Falls Lutheran Church.
Barb attended Gustavus Adolphus College for two years and then transferred to the University of Minnesota where she graduated with a teaching degree in 1964. Barb taught at White Bear Lake, Olivia, Renville County West and in Melbourne, Australia.
Barb loved history and was an active member of the Granite Falls Historical Society and several other Historical Societies. She was also a driver for Living At Home/Block Nurse Program, very involved in the Granite Falls Riverfront Revitalization organization and the Yes House. She taught Sunday School, sang in the church choir and played bells in the bell choir. Barb was active in LWML, AAUW, the Lady Slipper Garden Club, and Bridge Club. Barb would never say no to anybody and could be counted on to pitch in and help with whatever needed doing. In her spare time, she loved to read and take walks. She was a very active cheerleader for Paul, Tom and Emily's sports and the grandkids' activities, and all Granite Falls sports. She avidly followed the Twins and U of Minn Gopher sports. Barb enjoyed life long friendships with people she met throughout her entire life. Universally, she is remembered by all as one of the nicest person they ever met.
Barb is survived by her husband Paul, her son Tom (Tammy) Benson, her daughter Emily (Tony) Breck and her 6 grandchildren Paul, Delia, Calvin, Anna, Alex and Elisabeth, her two brothers Rich (Susan)Lundell of Scottsdale, Az and Carl (Joan) Lundell of Granite Falls, her sister Mary (Phil) Kelly of Granite Falls, and numerous nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. Barb was preceded in death by her parents Carl and Doris Lundell.
Memorials are preferred to Living At Home/Block Nurse Program or Granite Falls Library or an organization of your choice.
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