Catherine E. Benson

Catherine Elizabeth “Kay” Benson passed away March 4, 2014 in Chandler, Ariz.

Kay was born in Harrisburg, Ill., Oct. 8, 1916 and grew up on her father’s farm in Cottage Grove. She was one of five children.

She earned her teaching certificate and taught grade school in her home town for a few years. During World War II, she lived with her sister in Alton, Ill. and worked in an ammunition factory.

In 1944 Kay took a job teaching school in Stansbury, Wyo. She had never been out west and took the job as an adventure.

She was married to James Benson on May 13, 1946. They were married just four months short of 60 years before he died.

Both Jim and Kay enjoyed golf. Playing golf became a big part of their retirement.

Jim and Kay lived in Rock Springs, Wyo. from 1946 until they retired in 1979. They owned and operated Benson’s Pontiac, Buick, GMC for 36 years. They then retired and moved to Pinedale, Wyo. in the summers (later Star Valley) and Rio Verde in the winters. They became year-round residents of Rio Verde in 2004.

Kay later moved to Fountain View Village in Fountain Hills where she lived for the past five years.

Kay was preceded in death by her husband, James Benson in 2006. She is survived by her son, James Benson, and his wife, Yonne of Sandy, Utah; grandsons, Nicholas Benson and wife, Leah of Seattle, Wash. and Quentin Benson and wife, Elizabeth of Lynwood, Wash. Also surviving are her brother, Bob Hurley of Chico, Calif., and brother, Oscar Hurley and wife, Francis of Chattanooga, Tenn.

Services were held Saturday, March 8, at Messinger Fountain Hills Mortuary. The family requests that in place of flowers, donations be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014; 602-530-6992.