Benoni Loraine Crouch Nelson

Benoni Loraine Crouch Nelson passed on to another realm on April 30, 2023 in Salida, CO. She was a resident of Columbine Manor Care Center where she was doing rehab for a stroke she suffered in 2019.

Benoni, lovingly known as Noni spent the past 13 years in Salida, CO with her husband Gene, till he passed in 2011, then on her own with her sweet pup Ipo until her illness. Family enjoyed visiting them in their cute home next to a field often populated by deer. Noni kept a flourishing herb & flower garden and enjoyed the view of the mountains that reminded her of Alaska. Benoni was born in Oil City, LA, the first of three girls of Arlie and Madge Crouch. She spent her early years in various small towns in Louisiana where Arlie worked in the oil fields and Madge in restaurants. The family settled later in Shreveport, LA where they bought a home. During the war, at times her parents both worked in jobs on the local military bases. Arlie became a carpenter and Madge a dietician.

Benoni graduated from Byrd High School and attended classes at John Robert Powers School of Modeling. Noni had a love for music at a young age. She was even an officer in the local Elvis Presley Fan Club. During her modeling career she traveled around Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi for various modeling jobs. She also worked in sales and advertising. When the family relocated to Alaska in 1963, Benoni had to stay in Texas until she could afford to make the journey north that fall. Once in Anchorage, she worked at JC Penny’s as a window display designer. In 1971 Noni met the love of her life, Gene Nelson, who lovingly welcomed her 3 children (from 2 previous relationships) into his life, where he happily helped raise them and made his new family his top priority. Gene was partners in a successful ceramic tile business and a gracious, loving husband. They moved from Eagle River to the family farm in Palmer in 1974 where they spent the next 36 years. During that time Noni became very involved in the Iditarod Trail Committee, the Historical Society and ultimately became the curator for the Knik Museum where her love for The Great Race and Alaskan History provided interesting information and great entertainment for guests from all over the world visiting the Museum. When Noni was not at the Museum she could be found working in her garden in the summer or planning her garden in the winter and her love for photography resulted in many wonderful pictures of loved ones as well as the beauty of Alaska’s scenery. She spent a significant amount of time caring for and sharing with her grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She had a special talent for creating wonderful art projects for them to enjoy, accompanied by fun snacks.

Benoni was preceded in death by parents, Arlie and Madge Crouch, her partner Clyde Phipps, her husband Gene Nelson, her siblings AC Crouch, Walter Crouch, Margie Burroughs, Lama Poston, Calvin Crouch and Roy Crouch. She is survived by siblings Bill Crouch, Joan Gatzke, Bambi Hill, Rebecca Crouch Collins, Rachel Sherman, Jonathon Carter and Paul Crouch, children Maranatha Weisenberger (Paul), Samuel Nelson (Shannon) and Gilead Nelson (Tearsa), grandchildren Megan McGee Hill (Zach), Jessica Nelson and Christa Thompson (Curtis), and many nieces and nephews.

The family is in the process of putting together a more detailed Bio of Benoni’s life. If you knew her during her time in Alaska and have a story about her you would like to share, please reach out to Noni’s daughter Natha @ nathathompson64@hotmail.com