Marvel S. Benson

Marvel S. Benson                                                                                        Flowers? Marvel S. Benson, 102, of Goshen, died Saturday afternoon, November 19, 2005, at Greencroft Healthcare.  She had been in failing health the past three years. She was born February 28, 1903, in Forest City, Iowa, to Alson and Adella A. (Schader) Secor.  On April 2, 1927 she married Orma N. Smith.  He died July 12, 1965.    She and her husband moved to Goshen in 1938.  She was a long time member of the First United Methodist Church in Goshen, serving as their secretary in the 1940’s.  Upon his death in 1965 she moved to Ames, Iowa and married Justus A. Benson in 1972.  Upon his death in 1975, Mrs. Benson moved back to Goshen.   Mrs. Benson graduated from Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa in 1925.  She was a member of the Pi Beta Phi social sorority.  She had been a Camp Fire leader, house mother at Farm House at Iowa State University and traveled to Europe, England and Ireland.  She enjoyed keeping up on current events, painting and crafts.   She is survived by a daughter, Dellaura (Jim) Riggle of Elkhart and a son, Larry S. Smith of Goshen, three step-children, three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and nine step-grandchildren.   She was preceded in death by her husbands, Orma Smith and Justus Benson, three sisters, Vida Benson, Helen Woodruff, Candace Schmidt and a brother, Ralph Secor.   Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at a later date.   Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church, Goshen, or Greencroft Foundation, or Goshen Historical Society.