Marjorie "Margie" Eleanor Benson was born in Pasadena, California on Feb. 24, 1938, to Ruth and Howard Leffler. Her family moved one year later to Barnum, Minnesota, where her parents bought a farm. From an early age, Margie showed an interest in the 4-H youth organization, winning the Golden Fleece award at the age of 12. When she was asked by a newspaper how she had gone about grooming her sheep for the event, she replied, "I just fed him hay and oats." Margie graduated from Barnum High School in 1956 and shortly afterward began working at the Oliver Mining Company in Duluth, where she worked for three years.

She soon met her future husband, Arvid Benson, who was instantly enamored by her beauty and her feisty but also loving personality. They were married Sept. 21, 1957, in Barnum. The couple then moved to San Diego, California in 1959, seeking to broaden their horizons. When Arvid was hired by Imperial Savings, the two decided to put down roots in the Golden State. She and Arvid raised three children, Scott, John, and Lisa. A stay-at-home mother until her children were grown, Margie was an excellent cook and loved cooking for her family. Her favorite dishes to make were pot roast and apple pie. Family get-togethers with her parents were also a frequent and beloved activity. She later attended community college and worked for the San Diego Community College District, retiring in 1996.

Margie was passionate about travel and adventure, especially RV travel. She and Arvid explored the USA for 24 years, visiting the 48 contiguous states. They were members of the Snowbird Travel Club. Margie's favorite travel experience was spending time in the stunning mountains of Colorado, particularly in the summer and fall, when Colorado's epic landscapes are at their peak. Other highlights of their travels included enjoying Maine's beautiful autumn trees and, of course, feasting on its famous lobster, as well as spending time in Yuma, Arizona with their many friends at the country music dance halls. In recent years, as traveling became increasingly more difficult, she took up the entertaining hobby of hummingbird feeding, often spending hours enjoying the lively birds' company.

At the age of 82, Margie passed away July 13, 2020, at home with her husband by her side. She was a loving wife of 62 years, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Margie was preceded in death by her parents, Ruth and Howard Leffler. She was survived by her husband, Arvid Benson; sister Gloria Krohn; son Scott (Marni) Benson; son John (Roberto) Benson; daughter Lisa (Joseph) Kuharski; grandson Christopher (Beth) Benson; granddaughter Laurel Benson; grandson Brandon Kuharski; grandson Stephen (Caroline) Berndt; grandson Ryan (Mary) Berndt; grandson Michael Berndt; eight great-grandchildren, Cooper, Nolan, Bailey, Audrey, Carter, Juliet, Sutton and Lily; nieces and nephews; and a brother-in-law. A private memorial service was held at Featheringill Mortuary in San Diego, with her final resting place to be at the Riverside Cemetery in Barnum. The burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.