Do to technical difficulities we are only able to recover a portion of Betty's funeral.  We sincerely apologize and have uploaded what we have and you may watch on the following link.

Watch Betty's Funeral

Betty Louise (Stanhope) Benson, age 87, of Waubun, MN, passed peacefully on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at her home under the loving care of her family and HIA Hospice.

Betty was born October 24, 1938, to Ernest and Margaret (West) Stanhope on the north end of White Earth Lake in Becker County. She attended country school during her elementary school years before going to Waubun High School where she met her future husband, Lloyd Benson.

Much of Betty's young life was lived at Nemec's Resort (now Ceder Crest Resort) which was established by her mother and stepfather, Joseph Nemec. Through the years, she shared many stories of harvesting ice blocks, cleaning cabins and swimming to the island. On September 15, 1956, Betty and Lloyd were married at Lake Grove Lutheran Church. They purchased land for a small farm and built a three-room, tar-papered house which was later replaced by a larger home for their growing family. When the youngest of five kids entered kindergarten, Betty achieved her GED and got a job as a cook at the White Earth School. Later she transferred to Waubun School and eventually became the head cook where she brought a smile to the faces of students and staff for ten years. She then attended vocational school in Detroit Lakes to become a home health aide and served the elders of the community until retirement.

Betty was a devoted mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt and neighbor. She was known for her wit, common sense and ability to get things done. As a mother of five on a small farm, she and Lloyd taught their children the value of hard work, soft hearts, and family joy. She was an active member of Lake Grove Lutheran Church and served as Sunday School teacher, church treasurer, and WELCA president. In 1998, Betty and Lloyd received the honor of Valley Farm Couple of the year. In her retirement, she and Lloyd traveled and spent many hours in the fishing boat. Family and friends were important to Betty, and she embraced every opportunity to be in the company of them. Her skill and luck in cards and fishing were known throughout, and she always had a cup of coffee and cookies in the jar for anyone who stopped by.

Betty's legacy of love and laughter will be carried on by her children: Sue (Wilbur) Heisler, Mary (Stew) Metelak, John (Billie Jean) Benson, Margaret Benson Thompson, and Paul (Shelly) Benson; 13 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd Benson; brothers: Ernest Stanhope, Donald Stanhope, Paul Stanhope and Larry Nemec; sisters, Darlene and Shirley; parents, Margaret and Joseph Nemec and Ernest Stanhope Sr.; and sisters-in-law: Caroline Stanhope, Donna Stanhope, and Beatrice Benson Purdy; and brother-in-law, Bill Purdy.

Though she may no longer walk among us, Betty's memory will always bring a smile to our faces, a bit of humor and common sense at just the right time, and a lifetime of memories.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Lake Grove Lutheran Church, rural Waubun, MN. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 30, 2026, from 5:00 until 7:00 pm, with a Prayer Service beginning at 6:30 p.m., at the Anderson Family Funeral Home in Mahnomen, MN. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church.