Ethel Virginia Benson

ETHEL LIIMATTA BENSON

March 12, 1926 – May 19, 2020

                Ethel Liimatta Benson, age 94, a lifelong Menahga, MN area resident, peacefully passed into eternal life on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at the Green Pine Acres Nursing Home in Menahga, MN with her loved ones at her side.

                Ethel was born to Alben and Sybil (Johnson) Olson on her parent’s farm in Runeberg Township west of Menahga on March 12, 1926.  She attended the Spruce Lawn Country School near her home through the eighth grade and then went on to attend high school in Menahga.  As a young woman, Ethel ventured to Minneapolis where she gained employment as a machinist in a defense plant supporting the war effort by building airplane and naval vessel parts.  On April 28, 1948, Ethel was united in marriage to Clinton Liimatta.  This marriage was blessed with four children: Steve, Joanie, Roger, and Jeanne.  The young family made their home west of Menahga where they dairy farmed and logged.  Ethel devoted herself to making a loving home for her husband and children.  She was a wonderful cook and baker who will be long remembered for her delicious cinnamon rolls and Finnish flatbreads.  Her happy home was often blessed with the heartful sound of Ethel’s singing while she worked.  In addition to caring for her family, Ethel also worked as a sales clerk at the Coop Store and cooking at the Menahga Senior Citizens. She also worked alongside her husband with the daily chores of farming; feeding their livestock, milking cows, and helping in the fields raising the crops needed to feed their herd. Ethel was a talented seamstress and would often work late into the night sewing clothes for her children.  She had the gift of hospitality and loved to cook for and entertain family and friends.  Ethel was a masterful storyteller and enjoyed making people laugh.  In February of 1975, she endured the heartache of being preceded in death by her husband, Clint.  In May of 1976, she was married to Dick Benson.  They shared four wonderful years together before his untimely death in 1980. 

                Ethel will be lovingly remembered by her four children:  Steve Liimatta of Menahga, Joanie Liimatta of Menahga, Roger (Peggy) Liimatta of Watford City, North Dakota and Jeanne (Jody) Bjornson of Menahga; nine dearly loved grandchildren; 22 precious great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Oneita Quick of Menahga, MN; her sister-in-law, Edith Olson of WA; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

                She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Clint; her second husband, Dick; three sisters: Shirley Torkkola, Arlene Hedin, and Cora Meinhardt and three brothers: Dale Olson, John Olson, and Ansel Olson.

                A funeral service will be held for immediate family members at the Cardini-Pearson Funeral Home in Menahga 10 AM Tuesday, May 26, 2020 followed by burial at the Menahga City Cemetery at 11 AM with Pastor Steve Koehne officiating.   A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 PM Monday evening, May 25^th at the Cardini-Pearson Funeral Home.  The chapel will be limited to ten people at a time.