In Memoriam: Rev. Paul Benson
We pray for the family of Rev. Paul Benson, who died on January 1, 2022. He was 88 years old.
A service will be held at American Lutheran Church in Sun City, AZ, Saturday 1/29/2022, 11am MST. A light lunch will be served following the service.
Paul Benson obtained his new Heavenly residence on January 1, 2022. Paul was surrounded by family and friends at home when his heart played its final match.
Paul and his twin brother, Roy, were born in 1933 to the Reverend Arthur and Ellen Benson, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The boys join their older sister Dorothy.
Several years later, the family moved to a small farming community of Wataga, Illinois, where the twins engaged in rural activities: camping, hiking, swimming, gardening, sports. It was in high school sports that Paul found a love for running and competition. Paul, a talented singer on many levels, was gifted a distinguishing singing voice to share the gospel.
In 1958, while going to college and working for his brother-in-law Bob Dilley, Paul started a very successful singles group called InterLutheran Young Adults. This group of 18-35 year old, had several hundred members in the Des Moines, Iowa area. Terry Broadwell, a local nursing student, met Paul at this single young adults’ group and knew instantly she was going to marry him. Most reading this know that on August 23rd, 1959, Paul and Terry began their 62-year union in Ames, Iowa. They grew their family to six by having four beautiful children, four spouses and are blessed with eight exceptional grandchildren.
Paul was successful in marriage as well as vocation. Paul, a 3rd generation Lutheran Minister, graduated from the Augustana Lutheran Theological Seminary and interned in Spokane, Washington. Paul's first parish was an appointment to West Chicago, Illinois called St. Andrew's Lutheran Church. In 1973, an offer from Trinity Lutheran Church in Golden, Illinois was accepted by Paul, and he moved his family to a thriving 700-member church in an agricultural community. He retired from a three-point county parish in Rock Island, Illinois in September 2000. Paul and Terry then moved to Sun City, Arizona, where he served as interim pastor in seven different parishes in Idaho and Arizona. His last position was the visitation-pastor for American Lutheran Church in Sun City.
Paul was blessed with great health throughout his life, playing tennis six days per week over the past two decades. His two earthly loves, Terry and Tennis; sustained him in the final period of his life. One of the final conversations between Paul and Terry was in late December. "I am looking forward to Heaven, so I can get a new hand!" (referring to his right fingers that he lost in a farm accident as a 12 year old boy.) Paul now has a new right hand and is playing tennis in Heaven. Paul is survived by his adoring wife, Terry. Children and grandchildren: Mark & Mary Benson (Patrick); Barbara & Dan Murrin (Ian and Anneka); Matthew & Pam Benson (Jack, Elise and Alyson), Neil & Kate Benson (Kajsa and Anna).
A service will be held at American Lutheran Church in Sun City, AZ, Saturday 1/29/2022, 11am MST. A light lunch will be served following the service.
“O God of grace and glory, we remember before you our brother, Pastor Paul Benson. We thank you for giving him to us to know and to love as a companion in our pilgrimage on earth. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see that death has been swallowed up in the victory of our Lord, Jesus Christ, so that we may live in confidence and hope until, by your call, we are gathered to our heavenly home in the company of all your saints; through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.”
