Merlyn “Mick” J. Benson, 88
Sartell
July 1, 1934-Feb. 8, 2023
Merlyn “Mick” J. Benson, 88, of Sartell, MN, died Wednesday, Feb. 8 at Edenbrook of St. Cloud.
His funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 7 at the First United Methodist Church in Sartell. Interment will be in the First United Methodist Memorial Garden. Memorials are preferred to the First United Methodist Church.
Benson was born July 1, 1934 in Worthington, Minn. to Merlyn J. and Wilma G. (Smith) Benson. He graduated from Worthington High School in South Minneapolis, Minn. Benson served in the U.S. Army Military Police Unit from October 1954 to October 1956. He received a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art education from St. Cloud State University. He was employed as a high school art teacher and artist.
As an artist, watercolor was Benson’s preferred medium and representational art was his preferred focus. Benson favored painting landscapes, seascapes, raptors, flowers and buildings with historical character. In 1998, Benson was awarded merit honors at the Minnesota State Fair for his watercolor of two Percheron horses pulling a plow. Most recently, he was awarded “signature status” by the Red River Watercolor Society for acceptance in their show three times. He received top honors for his watercolors “Borglum Windmill,” “Haida Totem Pole” and his favorite painting of a young horned owl.
On Aug. 30, 1986, Benson married Jessie Dell Greenstreet Harper in St. Cloud. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include the following: his loving wife, Jessie Harper of Sartell; son Mark Benson of California; daughter Michelle (Greg) Curtis of California; three grandchildren: Chase, Kendra and Carly; and sister Nancy of Arizona.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Diane and Sue.
