Norma Jean Benson

Norma Jean (Loyer) Benson, 79, died Nov. 17, 2010, at Providence Hospital in Anchorage. She was born March 31, 1931. Memorial Mass with reception to follow is at St. Michaels Catholic Church, 432 East Fireweed Ave. Palmer at 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 20.

Norma Jean was born in Harrisville, Mich., to Joseph and Naomi Loyer; second oldest in family of 11 children. The family moved to Alaska in 1935 as Matanuska Valley Colonists. She graduated from Palmer High School in 1949 with National Honor Society membership and American Legion Award. She was a graduate of the REA Accounting Course and studied Alaska Real Estate Law at the University of Alaska.

She met and married Richard (Dick) R. Benson in 1947. They were married for 41 years.

In 1946, she worked at the Koslosky’s Department Store as a grocery cashier, handled bookkeeping duties at the Copper Center Roadhouse in 1949, owned the Dick Benson Amusement Company until 1990. She retired after 31 years with the Matanuska Electric Association’s engineering department. She received numerous awards for volunteering her services including 31 years as President of the Matanuska Valley Credit Union Board. She was a member of the Alaska State Fair Board, Little League Board of Directors, Pioneers of Alaska, Women of the Moose, Emblem Club (ELKS) and served on the board of directors for the Mountain Rose Homeowners Assoc.

Her hobbies included golfing, skiing, biking, road trips, shopping, and grandchild Dalton. An avid traveler, the only continent she missed was Antarctica. She was known for always being busy and treating each day as an adventure.

She was preceded in death by her parents Naomi and Joe Loyer; husband Richard Benson; and brother Gary Loyer. Survivors include daughter Deana Johnson of Anchorage; son Donald Benson of Palmer and their spouses James (Spud) Williams and Sharon Benson; grandchild Dalton Benson. Sisters Dorothy Hubbard, Rita Loyer, and Janice Svoboda; and brothers James, Victor, Kenneth, Fred, Rick, and Dennis (Butch) Loyer all of Palmer. Numerous nieces and nephews too many to name or count. She was the matriarch of the family and will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Palmer Historical Society or the Colony House Museum where she volunteered to conduct tours on a regular basis, or to a charity of your choice in her name. Please volunteer and become involved as she did throughout her life.