Edwin Benson

Edwin Benson -- KankakeeEdwin A. Benson, 98, died Sunday (Feb. 10, 2008) at the Indian River Medical Center in Vero Beach, Fla., following a brief illness. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home, Bourbonnais, and until time of services at the funeral home at 10 a.m. Saturday. Burial will be in Skyline Memorial Cemetery in Monee. Memorials may be made to the Glenwood Home for Boys and Girls, 500 W. 187th St., Glenwood, IL 60425, or to Bible Witness Camp in Pembroke.Mr. Benson was born in Torekov, Sweden, on May 27, 1909 to Anton and Josephina Benson. He and his family immigrated to the United States when he was 6 years old, settling in Mokena. In 1930 he married the former Florence Warning, who died in 1962. He subsequently married the former Cornelia Carr, who died in 2002.His career began at age 14 as a bookkeeper for a local lumber company. Later, he worked for Joliet Lumber & Supply Co. in Joliet, until 1935, at which time he joined Home Lumber & Supply of Rockford. He became general manager and remained in that capacity until 1950 when he acquired a majority interest in Security Lumber & Supply, Bradley. Subsequently, he became sole owner in 1953. Through the years he formed several businesses, including Security Steel Supply Co. of Kankakee, Security Builders Supply in Oswego and Rockford, and Security Door and Hardware, Urbana and Springfield. To the end, he followed the activities of the family business interests.He was a member of the Bradley Lions, the Masonic Order, the Shriners, Kankakee Country Club, Vero Beach Yacht Club, the Congregational Church and a life member of Kankakee Elks Lodge No. 627.He is survived by one brother and sister-in-law, Gordon and Carroll Benson of Rockford; three sons and daughters-in-law, Roger and Nancy Benson of Bourbonnais, Ronald Benson of Bradley, Russell and Sandra Benson of Kankakee; one stepson, Fred and Kathy Carr of Virginia Beach, Va.; six grandchildren, Edwin A. Benson II of Kankakee, Lisa Benson of Barrington, Edith (Scott) Beaver of Rockford, David (Rose) Benson of Bradley, Chris (Rosemarie) Benson of Bourbonnais, and Curtis (Julie) Benson of Stoughton, Wis. He has 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. He is also survived by three stepgrandchildren, Michael Schale, Colleen Jones, and Sherri (Vince) Paulaskis; and several stepgreat-grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Arthur and Olander; sister, Bertha Swanson; and stepdaughter, Denyse King.He was deeply respected and an inspiration to all who knew him. He will be sadly missed by family and friends.

Edwin Benson

May 27, 1909 - February 10, 2008