IRENE LOUISE BENSON, age 92, of 815 Chapin St., died Tuesday, March 17, 1998 at Luther Hospital. She was born August 6, 1905 to Johan and Johanna (Ness) Westerlund in Blair, WI, and graduated from Blair High School in 1923. Irene married Earl W. Benson on November 26, 1924 in Winona, MN. They moved to Eau Claire in 1943. She was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church, where she was active in church women, mission sewing, Faith Circle, and was Sunshine Chairman.\r\nOf Irene's many gifts the most apparent was her genuine love for not only her family but all those around her. Her intelligence, gentle humor and warmth touched everyone she met. It was a rare moment when she wasn't busy with some project whether at church or home destined to bring hope or happiness into someone's life, be it family, friend, or stranger. \r\nIrene's loving spirit, strength of faith and sense of dedication made her a truly exceptional person.\r\n"And the greatest of these is love."\r\nSurvivors include a son, Robert of Missoula, MT; a daughter, Anita (Roy) Wright of Eau Claire; four grandchildren Erik and Anna Benson of Missoula, MT, Steven (Lena) Wright of Eau Claire and Rebecca Wright of Mpls, MN; a great-granddaughter, Kristina Wright of Eau Claire; and two sisters, Helen (Carroll) Tollefson of Fargo, ND, and Hjordis (Gordon) Anderson of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.\r\nIrene was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Earl in 1990. \r\nFuneral Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Our Saviors Lutheran Church with Pastor Gary F. Sahs officiating. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Lenmark-Gomsrud Funeral Home, and 10 a.m. until time of services Friday at the church.

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