Toni Benson

Although she accomplished so much of which to be proud, Toni Benson was a gracious woman filled with humility and kindness who continuously put the needs of others ahead of her own. She was intelligent and intuitive with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and she was passionate about sharing what she learned with those around her. A more devoted wife and loving mother would be hard to find, yet Toni just may have argued that becoming a grandmother was her greatest gift. Life was not always easy for her, yet her strength and unwavering courage was a testament to the extraordinary woman her friends and family so deeply loved. The memories Toni leaves behind will be lasting treasures for generations to come.

The 1960s were a volatile time in American history as the cultural fabric of our nation was being shaped in remarkable ways. Martin Luther King, Jr. brought civil rights to the forefront, and although his message was given in peace his ideals were sometimes contorted into something drastically different. As a nation we elected President John F. Kennedy, and it was just a couple of years later that we came together to mourn his untimely death. It was in 1962 that a young family from Decatur, Michigan, was delighted to welcome a baby girl into the fold on October 25th. Toni Irene was the youngest of three children born to her parents, John J. and Sarah Jane (Adams) Jackson, and she was raised in the family home alongside her older brothers, Thomas and Jerry.

Life was a bustle of activity for Toni from the time she was a young girl. As a family they put 7,000 miles on their Winnebago, traveling to both the Southwest and the Northeastern regions of the country. Toni did her fair share on the family farm, usually picking asparagus and potatoes, and she also drove the pick-up truck while her brothers loaded potatoes in the back. She looked forward to visits with her grandparents, Amy and Elmer Jackson, with whom she played numerous games of Aggravation. With brothers around it was impossible to stay completely out of mischief such as the time they were driving Toni around on the bike and she fell off. Although she suffered a broken leg, her partners in crime begged her not to tell their parents, and she didn’t for several hours. Toni was a student at Decatur schools including Decatur High School where she excelled in her studies and played basketball and softball her senior year. After graduating from high school in 1981 she continued her education at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, graduating in 1983. At first Toni worked as a legal secretary, but she later earned her library certificate.

Not to be forgotten during her years as a young woman was Toni’s blossoming relationship with the love of her life. He was a fellow classmate named Dan Benson, and they actually met when she was in fifth grade. Since he was one year her junior, Toni always thought he was too young, but they started dating while she was keeping stats for his basketball games. It was 1982 when she finally gave in, and they had their first date to an early movie followed by dinner at Long John Silver’s and bowling. With a desire to spend the rest of their lives together Toni and Dan were married on December 8, 1984, at Paw Paw Methodist Church. They spent their honeymoon at the Brown County Inn in an old resort town in Indiana.

The newlyweds settled into Toni’s grandparents’ home on the property of her family farm. Together they welcomed three children into their hearts and home: John, Daniel, and Olivia. Toni devoted her days to caring for her husband and children, and both she and Dan were there for all of their children’s activities - dividing and conquering when necessary. She always catered to her children and loved showing them her love by keeping them well fed. Each child always got to pick the meal when it was their birthday, and Christmas morning found Toni preparing a fantastic breakfast to start off the day. She absolutely loved Christmas as it was a time to gather as a family. Family vacations usually incorporated some sort of historical or research aspect for Toni and often an amusement park for the kids. Pets were always a part of life in the Benson home as well. Life came full circle for Toni when she became a grandmother to the grandson she adored more than life itself eight months ago.

It was when she was just 19 that Toni uncovered her passion for family and local history, interests that were second only to her family. Since then she became a professional researcher and lector who also published several books, honoring her grandparents by using their names in her publishing company. Toni also fervently pursued her family’s genealogy. Combining her love for learning with her love for helping others, Toni was employed by the Van Buren District Library in Decatur for 25 years beginning as a bookmobile librarian in 1988. In 1995 she was appointed the library’s first Local History Librarian, a job she adored until her death.

A vital part of her community, Toni was also a charter member and past president of the Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society, to whom she devoted hundreds of hours of volunteer time. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution since 1987, serving as registrar for the Martin Van Buren Chapter, Paw Paw, and a current member of the Samuel Felt Chapter, Dowagiac.

Someone who was always doing something, Toni had several other things to keep her busy. She was a regular at garage sales and loved antiquing, often bringing back treasures for her family that she found on vacation. Toni collected matchbooks, postcards, and maintained other family collections as well. She kept a garden for many years and was into crocheting and doing cross-stitch, and both she and Dan loved building up their own movie store that was filled with 1358 movies and shows to date.

The things that made Toni Benson such an extraordinary woman are numerous. She was generous, yet rarely took credit for the things that she did, and she was always looking out for others. With the love of her life by her side for 30 years, Toni was the glue that held her family together. She ran a tight ship at home and always had everything planned and organized, yet her list of things to do never got in the way of making the most of the moments she was given to share with those she loved. Toni continued to embrace life after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer over four years ago, and it was with renewed passion that she took an Alaskan cruise with her beloved Dan. She will be dearly missed and warmly remembered.

Toni I. Benson died on July 5, 2013. Toni’s family includes her husband, Daniel; children, John J. Benson, of Decatur, Daniel K. (Jennifer) Benson II, of Decatur, and Olivia E. Benson, Decatur; grandson, Aiden James Benson; parents, John & Sarah Jackson of Decatur; brothers, Thomas J. (Cheryl) Jackson of Grand Rapids and Jerry A. (Cindy) Jackson of Mattawan; and seven nieces and nephews. Visit with Toni’s family and friends on Monday from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler & Thompson – Paw Paw; 60900 M-40, 657-3870 where services will be held Tuesday 10:00 a.m. followed by burial at Lakeside Cemetery, Decatur. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a memory or photo or sign her memory book. Memorial donations may be directed to Van Buren District Library Local History Endowment Fund.