Mary Louise “Marylou” Benson, 86, a wife, mother and homemaker, passed away peacefully on April 2, 2013, from natural causes at the Marias Medical Center in Shelby.  

 Mary Lou is survived by her sons, John Benson and Debby of Houston, Dave Benson and Jane of Franktown, Colo., Gary Benson and Kathrin of Houston, and L.G. Benson and Yanira of Houston; a daughter, Wanda Kennedy and Larry of Shelby; as well as 16 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Marylou was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, David “Dave” Benson; and a grandson, David Benson of Bigfork.

Marylou was born the youngest of five children to Frank and Mary Jane (Buchanan) Billmayer of Harlem, Mont. Marylou was raised in Harlem but lived with her family for a brief time in Tacoma, Wash., where she attended Aquinas Academy before returning to Kalispell, where she graduated from Flathead County High School in 1945. I

n 1946 she met and married Dave Benson while employed as a cook at the M-Lazy-B Ranch in Marion. They lived at the ranch for nine years. During that time they hand built a log house and had their first son, John. After spending 1948 in Kerrville, Texas, the family then returned to Montana where Dave and Marylou completed their family. Dave worked in road construction which took them all over the state.  After many years the family purchased a home and settled down in Bigfork where they resided until 1994.  From there, they moved to Sunburst where they spent their summers, and they wintered in Quartzsite, Ariz. While in Quartzsite, Mom enjoyed four-wheeling, bingo, dry washing for gold, potlucks and visiting with friends.

A memorial celebration is being planned for early in July of 2013. Anyone with questions regarding the memorial service may contact Wanda Kennedy at (406) 424-8095 or kennedy@3rivers.net.

Condolences for the family may be posted at www.whittedfuneralchapel.com.