Mary Jane Benson

Mary Jane Benson passed away on Saturday, February 17, 2018 at Mayo Clinic Health System - Mankato. Mary Jane Fredrickson was born June 12, 1923 near Hanska, MN, the daughter of Hjelmer and Anna (Jacobson) Fredrickson. Mary Jane grew up in the Hanska area. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Hanska. She graduated from St. James High School in 1941. On June 11, 1946 she married Kenneth Benson, the couple made their home in LaSalle then St. James. Mary Jane worked in the school district for some 19 years as a cook retiring in 1986. She was a member of First Lutheran Church where she served on the church board and as a Sunday School teacher. She was also active in UTU auxiliary, Shriners auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary, Eagles Auxiliary and the Eastern Star. Mary enjoyed spending time at their lake cabin at Long Lake, bridge club, golfing and the traveling she did with her sister. She is survived by her children; Steve Benson of Whitefish, MT, Keith (Pat) Benson of Hastings, Kevin Benson of Chaska, Kathy (Mike) Turtle of River Falls, WI, Jeff (Bernice) Benson of St. James, 6 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, sister Donna Skarpohl of Mankato, sisters-in-law; Ardis (Donny) Grotta of Mankato and Annette Fredrickson-Johnson of Sleepy Eye. She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, grandsons Dustin Turtle, Zachary Anderson, sister Carol, brothers Arden, Howard and Roger. Visitation 1 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Wednesday, February 21, 2018 Sturm Funeral Home, St. James Chapel 906 - 10th Ave. S. St. James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Visitation 2 10:00 am - 11:00 am Thursday, February 22, 2018 First Lutheran Church, St. James 716 6th Ave. S. Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Service Information 11:00 am Thursday, February 22, 2018 First Lutheran Church, St. James 716 6th Ave. S. Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Interment Information LaSalle Cemetery, LaSalle SW corner of town La Salle, Minnesota, United States 56056 Fellowship Lunch will be served right after funeral services. Burial to follow.