Martha L. Benson, 84, died Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at the Clay Center Presbyterian Manor. Martha Louise Benson was born in Wichita, Kansas on August 6, 1933 to Joseph and Mattie (Morehead) Watson. She graduated from Wichita North High School in 1951. Martha attended KSU and received a Bachelor’s of Art degree in History and Political Science in 1955. She married Harvey Benson on December 26, 1954. While Harvey served in the Air Force, they lived in Bellefonte, PA and Harmon Air Force Base, Newfoundland. They moved to Clay Center in 1960 to farm. They moved to Marysville in 1987 where they were members of Berean Church. Upon retirement, they returned to Clay Center. Martha worked as a farm wife and for the Census Bureau twice. She was a 4H leader, active in TOPS and Gideons, a volunteer at Pony Express Museum and a member of the Clay Center Evangelical Covenant Church. She is preceded in death by her parents and husband, Harvey on May 5, 2013.
Survivors include 4 daughters: Becky and Duane Dart, Indianapolis, IN; Jennie Benson and Roni Christner, Highlands Ranch, CO; Florence and Greg Girard, Concordia, KS; Deanne and Doug Kamphaus, Clay Center, KS; 8 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren; sisters, Dorothy Minson and Jorita Beldon, Wichita, KS.
Funeral Services: Saturday, January 13, 2018 at 11:00AM at the Clay Center Evangelical Covenant Church in Clay Center, KS.
Minister: Pastor Grant Clay
Burial: Republican City Cemetery, Clay County, KS
Visitation: will be held on Friday, January 12, 2018 from 3-8PM at Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home, Clay Center, KS
Memorials: may be made to Gideons International, Presbyterian Manor Good Samaritan Fund, or the Clay Center Zoo c/o the funeral home.