Life Sketch of MAGNA OLGA LARSEN BENSON wife of Marcus Joseph Benson,


by Norma
Benson Christensen, a daughter.

Mother was born 13 April 1868 in beautiful Copenhagen,Denmark. She
was the daughter of Ole and Johanna Larsen. Bening of very quiet and


refined nature, her parents placed her in a private school where she
made wonderful progress.
Her mother was a Latter-Day Saint and very strict with her religious
duties. Her father not being a mormon was much opposed to his
children being raised under that religion. It made it extremely hard


for her mother to accomplish what she so desired. Mother always
attended her Sunday School and took great interest in the Bible and
the Book of Mormon, which she knew almost by heart. Whenever we
children were in need of information on religion, she could always
tell us where to find the answer.
She left her native land and came to Salt LakeCityh, but did not stay


there for her older sister Olive lived in Moroni, Sanpete County so
she went to stay with her. After living in a large city she was not
satisfied there so she came back to Salt Lake City where she stayed
with a prominent family by the name of Keiting. Here she cared for
their children and was always a dear friend of that family.
At that time Aunt Libby and her husband Bishop Hans Funk lived in
Newton and they were very anxious to se mother so she left Salt Lake
and came to Newton in Cache valley to her sister. She like many
others liked it here so stayed. She met and married Marcus Joseph
Benson and was ever after content and happy.
Their first home was on the farm located near the creek where the
road passes. They moved to town for the winter and lived in William
Griffin's house where their daughter, Hazel, was born. They moved
back to the farm in the summer.
Mother often related incidents of how the tramps came to their home
begging. This frightened her very much when she was alone. One day
as she was rocking her baby to sleep, a negro came, looked in the
window, but when he saw mother he walked away. One time father was
away for wood in the canyon and did not return until three o clock in


the morning. Mother was out looking for him when she saw someone
moving in kthe bushes. She became so frightened that she picked up
her baby and wzalked to town. When she reached Aunt Libby's, she
fell exhausted on the porch. Mother was a very small lady with brown


hair and blue eyes and she was not very strong.
About 1892, father built the first brick home in Newton. Norma,
Mildred and Royden were born in the new home. The lost one baby, a
little girl, named Helen.
Mother was a great story teller and we children loved when she would
sit down and tell us stories. She was so cozy and she loved her home


and had no desire to work in public, but she was very charitable.
She loved to help the needy by sending them a little money. No one
ever knew she did these things, but her family and we knew because
she would send us to deliver the help she gave. Whenever there was
sickness and poverty, she gave freely.
Although she was not a public worker herself, she always encouraged
her children to take part and help in the organization and they did.


She attended Sacrament Meeting regularly.
Father was called on a mission to the North Central Mission and
mother really had it hard because she wasn't used to managing the
farm and cows and everything, but the way was opened up and father
filled an honorable successful mission.
She loved the out-of-doors and there was nothing that would please
her more than when we girls would say, "Now mother we will do the
work in the house and you can do just as you please," which almost
always would be out among the flowers and vegetables. She was
especially proud of her early spring flowers especially the
daffodils, tulips, crocus and narcissis of which she had many. Such
cabbage as she raised was unsurpassed. She was free with her
vegatables and gave freely to friends and neighbors. I can just see
her in her sunbonnet and tie apron.
She was so happy wen Royden was born for they did want a son. Father


was away working on the railroad at the time the baby was born, but
came home soon after and we children could hardly wait to break the
news to him.
Father used to go to the canyon for wood and would be gone a week at
a time and mother would take such pains in preparing the food he took


with him. She made the best bread and little cakes that were so
dainty.
Sometimes, both mother and father would attend parties or dances or
shows and leave the children with Aunt Amanda or grandmother, but she


always left us some kind of goodies to make us happy.
I'll never forget the time I had typhoid fever and lay so sick for
eight long weeks and the long patient hours of nursing she spent
until I was better. She called the elders in and both father and
mother had such strong faith that I would recover.
At one time, there was an epidemic of diptheria in Newton and mother
would fix food to send to families in distress. Many people died of
the disease. One night she went to a place where there was poverty
and slipped a five dollar bill under the door. No one ever knew who
placed it there.
At the time, she lay so sick prior to her death, she planned for us
all. She made the remark that if she had her life to live over
again, she would want it just as it had been. She loved her family,
her home, her friends, and everything around her.
She seemed to realize that the end was near and so was Christmas, but


she had all her christmas presents ready and about two weeks before
Christmas, she gave us our presents which father had bought for her.


Aunt Libby made Cleo a little dress that mother had designed, for she


was two years old, and a red wagon for
Grant.
She was so content to have us all around her. Although she suffered
a great deal, she was cheerful and happy to the end which came on 19
December 1921, at her home in Newton. She was burried in Newton
Cemetary. She was 53 years old when she died.