Lila J. Benson

Stoughton- Lila June Benson, age 83, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 17, 2010 at the HospiceCare Center in Fitchburg surrounded by her family.  She was born in Grant County on June 5, 1927, the daughter of Choe E. and Ida M. (Bleck) Lathrop.  Lila graduated from Stoughton High School in 1945.  While at a church youth group meeting, she met Trygve Benson, and they were married on June 11, 1955.  She enjoyed baking, sewing and spending time with her children and grandchildren.  Lila's family will forever treasure her sweet gentle spirit and enduring values she demonstrated to them.  She enjoyed working as a bookkeeper at Chapin Oil Company for years after high school.  Later, Lila worked for the Stoughton Public Schools lunch program.  She was a charter member of Calvary Evangelical Free Church (now Lakeview Church) in Stoughton.  Lila is survived by her husband, Trygve; her four children, Lois (Tom) Fosdal of Stoughton, Barbara (Philip) Peterson of St. Paul, MN, Steve (Lori) of Colorado Springs, CO and Nancy (Jim) Loehr of Oregon; nine grandchildren, Erin, Sara, Emily, Luke and Caleb Benson, Michelle and Katie Loehr, Erik and Elisa Peterson; and nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Violet Jewell; and brothers, Gordon and Norbert Lathrop.  Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 23, 2010 at Lakeview Church, 2200 Lincoln Avenue, Stoughton.  Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery.  Friends and relatives are invited to a luncheon at church immediately following the burial.  Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until the time of services Saturday.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lakeview Church or HospiceCare Inc., 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI, 53711.  The family extends their deep appreciation to Alaina Thompson R.N. of HospiceCare Inc., Dr. Douglas Kutz, and the staff of Oregon Manor for their care of Lila.