Dolores O. Benson

Dolores O. Benson, 100, of Overland Park, KS, formerly of St. Edward, NE passed away Saturday, April 9, 2022 at Kansas City Hospice House, Kansas City, MO.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, April 14, 2022 at the Palestine Baptist Church, rural Lindsay, NE, with Ted Pearson officiating. Interment will follow at the parish cemetery. There will be a lunch served at church following the services. Visitation will be 5:00- 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at Miller-Levander Funeral Home, St. Edward, NE.

Miller-Levander Funeral Home of St. Edward, NE is in charge of arrangements.

Dolores Odetta Benson, daughter of Clarence A. and Anna (Thomazin) Pearson was born on September 26, 1921, rural Genoa, NE.  Dolores was baptized at the Palestine Baptist Church, rural St. Edward, NE.  She attended elementary school in rural Genoa, then graduated from Genoa High School.  She then attended Kearney State Teachers College.

On February 24, 1943, she was united in marriage to Donald Benson at the Palestine Baptist Church.  They lived, farmed and raised livestock their entire married life in the area where they both were born.  Dolores was a farmer's daughter and farmer's wife, rural schoolteacher, and mother.

She became a member of the Palestine Baptist Church as a young girl and faithfully served Jesus there until she moved out of the community.  Dolores was active in the American Baptist Women's work, Camp Moses Merrill, and local Nursing home volunteer activities.  Dolores could be summed up, "Do the right thing and do it right!"  She gave herself generously to teaching Sunday School, playing the piano for church and nursing home gatherings, and creating delightful items for church, family, and community with her love of words and drawings.  Jesus was and is her passion, and in her last months on earth, listening to and singing songs about Him brought a glow to her face!  She was known for her butterhorn rolls, chocolate pie, Swedish meatballs and gravy, and her family stories (with many details).

Dolores is survived by her sister Marjorie Pozehl of California; daughter Beverly Evans of Overland Park, KS; 2 granddaughters: Elizabeth Evans and Amy Abbott; grandson Nate Evans; great-grandchildren Mason Gardner, Maliyah and Elayna Katz; along with several nieces, nephews, relatives and a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Donald; son-in-law Charles Evans; sister Leola Johnson; brothers: Vernon and Carrol Pearson; brothers-in-law Earl Johnson, Milt Pozehl, Les, Art, and Allen Benson; sisters-in-law Rachel and Phyllis Pearson, Lillian Matthews, Edna, Florence, and Gladys Benson.