Geraldine May Benson

Geraldine “Gerri” May Benson, 80, died peacefully on August 29th, 2014. She was born on May 11, 1934 to her parents Delia Patnaude Hedberg and Henry Hedberg in Red Lake Falls, Minnesota. She graduated from Morgan Park High School and married her sweetheart, Keith Benson on August 30th in 1952. Together they raised their family in Duluth and Virginia, Minnesota.

Throughout her life, Gerri was known as a talker, and befriended many people along the way. She could be found chatting with her friends and sipping coffee. For many years she and her family resided in Morgan Park, and it was common knowledge that she knew every family in the neighborhood, which houses they lived in, and who they were related to from the area. Besides being a caring mother and friend, she held a variety of jobs including working for the telephone company, Glassblock Department Store, Shoes ‘n Things, Dr. LeVasser’s Dentist Office, and Thrun Trucking. In her spare time, she loved bowling, and could dance the jitterbug like none other.

Over the years, Gerri enjoyed a variety of pastimes. Gerri was a skilled knitter, and her beautiful baby sweaters were sought after by family, friends, and church bazaar shoppers. At Christmas her family could count on a new supply of dishcloths, hats, and mittens made from the heart. Additionally, Gerri was the best baker that grandkids could ever ask for in a grandma. Her chocolate chip cookies, Christmas cookies, pumpkin bars, and white cake with chocolate frosting were in high demand. In the summer, her potato salad was a centerpiece on the barbeque menu, and nobody could make it as delicious. She was also a collector, driving from one end of Duluth to the other in pursuit of Hummels, teapots and Beanie Babies. Gerri gallivanted all over town, and loved treating her grandkids to chocolate frosted doughnuts, trips to Coney Island, and visits with her friends.

Gerri is survived by her husband Keith, daughter Peggy (John) Scott, son Robert (Linda) Benson, daughter Pam (Ronn) Tomassoni, son-in-law Dan Fedorowski, eleven grandchildren (Joe, Anne, Erin, Emily, Keith, Chrissy, Michelle, Gabby, Jake, Cole, Carly), five great-grandchildren (Lauren, Johnny, Pierce, Marshall, and Isabella), her sister Helen Glass, sister-in-law Donna Benson, sister-in-law Janice Nelson, brother-in-law Wayne Benson, and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her daughter, Barbie (Benson) Fedorowski, parents, sisters, Nora and Orella, and brother Toby.

Gerri was a member of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, and her services will be held there on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014.

Visitation: 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial, Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014 at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 1467 88th Ave W, in Morgan Park.

Please leave a memory of Gerri or words of support at www.bellbrothersfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements under the direction of Bell Brothers Funeral Home, Duluth, MN.