Sharon Benson

Sharon Benson, age 82, of Mentor, MN, passed away on Tuesday, October 28th, at her home with her family by her side. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 5th, at Faith Lutheran Church in Mentor with the Rev. Michael Sletto officiating. Interment will be in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, McIntosh. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service on Tuesday, November 4th, and for one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. All visitation will be held at Faith Lutheran Church in Mentor. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Erskine and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.

Sharon Ann Yergens was born on April 23, 1943, in Fosston, Minnesota to parents Leslie and Myra (Nyhus) Yergens. This was during the height of World War II and, with her father deployed in Europe, she and her mother spent lots of time at the Yergens farm at McIntosh with grandparents, aunts and uncles.

She started school at Fosston and continued at Erskine where the family had moved. She met the love of her life, Willard Benson, of Mentor and they were married August 12, 1961. To this union five children were born, Perry, Jeff, Bryan, Melissa, and Janelle. They lived briefly at Crookston and Erskine and eventually settled west of Mentor, where they have lived since 1966.

Sharon had her own house cleaning service for several years. She had the unique talent of remembering all the details of growing up at Erskine. Her memory was amazing and stories so interesting. Also, her potted flowers were meticulous – no dead heads allowed!

She was a warm and loving grandmother and great grandmother as her family grew. She will be dearly missed.

Survivors include her husband of 64 years, Willard, of Mentor; five children, Perry of Buffalo, NY, Jeff (Robin) of Mentor, Bryan (Shanel) of Mentor, Melissa (Jim) Fredericks of Mentor, and Janelle (Randy) Shaver of Mentor; 17 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren; one sister, Charlotte Hopke of McIntosh, MN; and nieces, nephews and cousins.

Also surviving are in-laws, Carol Kjos of Mentor, Nick (Cathie) Benson of Baxter, MN, Eugene (Cindy) Benson of Mentor, Diane Benson of Mentor, and Deanne Benson of Thief River Falls, MN.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Les and Myra Yergens; father and mother-in-law, Bennie and Nora Benson; brothers-in-law, Howard Hopke, Ancel Benson, Gordon Benson, Richard Benson, Reuben Benson and Harley Kjos; and sister-in-law, Charlotte Broadwell.