Jean Ruth Mandrell Benson

Jean Ruth Benson, 78, passed peacefully from this life to the next, on March 25, 2006, in Kennewick, WA.

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalms 118:24

Jean was born to Dorothy and Otis Mandrell, in Bemidji, Minnesota on Feb 21, 1928, the first of six children. She spent her early years in Northern Township, attending Northern School, graduating from Bemidji High School in 1946. She was married to Earl Arthur Benson on January 16, 1947, in Superior, Wisconsin. Together they built their first homes in Bensonville, and Lisle, Illinois. After winning the reclamation project drawing in 1955, they traveled west with their three children, to claim a farm in the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project, build another home, and continue raising their four children.

In 1968 Jean and Earl joined in starting a co-op charter flying service, ‘Am Air’, operating out of Pasco, WA. They developed a Laundromat and two other farms, one of which is still in the family, being farmed by their son.

Jean loved to stitch and sew soft toys. After Earl’s retirement in 1982, she spent much time collecting dolls, eventually starting a small shop in Pasco with her daughters called the Doll Farm. In 1983 she authored a Farm Journal Craft book, entitled: “Soft Toys To Stitch and Stuff”. She also excelled at baking large trays of Granny Smith apple pie, which she called ‘apple slices’. This treat was especially loved by her cherished grandkids and family.

Jean is survived by her father Otis Mandrell and brother Ronald of MN, sisters Joann Gordon of MN, Joyce Thompson of CO, Marilyn Glidden of MN and Marjorie Dyas of AR, daughters Judy Leonard, Vicki McCurry, son Gary Benson, and daughter Diana Moulton, 11 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren, and numerous other relatives. She was preceded in death by her husband Earl, of 51 years, in 1998.

A celebration of Jean Ruth Benson’s life 78 years will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, March 28, 2006, at the graveside site shared with Earl, Sunset Memorial Gardens, in Richland, WA.