Amanda Benson

Amanda Benson, age 105, passed away on December 7, 2014, in Champaign, IL. Born on the family farm in Russell Township, Lawrence County, IL, on July 3, 1909, Amanda was the youngest of nine children born to Missouri (Lackey) Stevens and John Henry Gregory Stevens. On December 12, 1931, Amanda married Chester Edmund Benson of Allison Prairie at the Methodist parsonage in Hutsonville, IL. They had two daughters, Lola Murl and Rosemary, and resided near the Stevens Family farm in Russell Township. Amanda was a housewife, Four-H leader, quilter, gardener and respected member of her community. She was a member of East Pinkstaff EUB church and Allison Prairie Church of the Brethren. Widowed at age 59, she remained on the family farm for 5 years before moving to Mattoon, IL, to live next to her daughter Murl and family. There she continued her role as housewife and caregiver to her granddaughter, Lezli White. She also was active in helping with her two grandsons, John and Jim Lake, who resided in Effingham, IL. In 1986 Amanda, Murl and son-in-law Max combined their two households and moved to rural Charleston, IL, where they lived for the next 28 years. In the spring of 2014 they moved to Sidney, IL, rural Champaign, to live close to her granddaughter Lezli and her husband Dan. There she celebrated her happiest birthday-her 105th-in a week-long celebration with her extended family. Amanda was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Chester Edmund Benson, six brothers: Jim, Alvin, Walter, George, Lyman, and Lester and two sisters: Mary Ellen Pinkstaff and Mae Cunningham Espy. One grandson, John Lloyd Lake, also preceded her in death. She is survived by daughters, Lola Murl White (husband Max) of Sidney, IL, and Rosemary Lake (husband David) of Effingham IL, and Leesburg, FL. Amanda is also survived by two grandchildren, Lezli Diane Cline (husband Dan) of Sidney, IL, and James Gregory Lake (wife Mulu) of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Leesburg, FL. Great-grandchildren surviving are Jenee' Lake and Greg Lake (wife Tina) both of Effingham, IL, Derek Lake of Fort Walton Beach, FL, Sarah Lake of Brussels, Belgium, Sean McCullough (wife Katie) of Bloomington, IL, Dean McCullough (wife Sara) of Danvers, IL, and Megan Cline of San Diego, CA. Great-great-grandchildren are Araya Lake, Kaleb Grubaugh, Ashley Lake, and Zachary Lake of Effingham,IL, and Maxwell McCullough of Danvers, IL. Amanda is also survived by one niece, LaWana Maxwell of Robinson, IL, and several nieces and nephews in the Benson family, including special relatives Lois and Herald Benson of the Allison Prairie community. Funeral services for Amanda Stevens Benson will be held on Tuesday, December 9, 2014, at the Allison Prairie Church of the Brethren, rural Pinkstaff, IL. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. at the church, followed by lunch and services at 1 p.m. Burial will be in Lawrenceville, IL, cemetery. Emmons-Macey & Steffey Funeral Home, Lawrenceville, is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to Allison Prairie Church of the Brethren.