Carole Ann Benson was born on December 13, 1942, and passed on January 14, 2024. She loved her family, friends, community and Spartans!
Carole grew up in Ludington, Michigan. She was the only child of Walter F. Luskin and Helen (Farrington) Luskin. Upon graduation from Ludington, the fledgling oriole attended Western Michigan University and Davenport studying business. Living in Grand Rapids, Michigan she took a job with Benefit Actuaries. It was there she crossed paths with her husband, Irving O. Benson. The couple married in 1965 and would enjoy 58 years together.
The couple had three children Brian (Lynne), Andrea (Joseph) Cosenza, and Lisa (Salvatore) Migliore and six grandchildren.
Carole was an organizer and an entertainer. She was constantly involved… organizing functions for family, friends, school, community, and business. She loved socializing, enjoying a fine meal with friends and family. She was definitely old school and things were always just so. She would eagerly speak of her children and grandchildren.
Speaking of food and drink, Carole enjoyed lobster in Maine, drank wine in Napa, oysters poolside in Naples, Yorkshire pudding in London, strudel in Salsburg, prawns in the Caribbean Islands, steak and fresh morels in Michigan and of course, oyster stew each and every Christmas Eve. Fresh and simple were the best ingredients… topped with butter. Carole was a prolific baker, and the house was always full of kids after school to eat the cookies, brownies, or cakes each day… bait.
School age summers were spent camping out at Canadian Lakes Club. Life was a beach – swimming, boating, waterskiing, motorbikes, fishing, and campfires, so many great memories.
In the 1980’s, the Bensons purchased a college rental to house their children who attended Michigan State University. That rental kept them connected to MSU and the thoughts and trends of college age kids for the next 40 years. Irv and Carole enjoyed MSU football and basketball games, tailgating either at the university or at their home.
Carole gave back by donating time to The Steketee Guild, Newcomers, school PTA and other charitable organizations. In her spare time, Carole loved playing bridge. She developed lifetime friendships with many bridge partners. It was the loss of her mental sharpness that ended her bridge playing, and ultimately her life. Dementia is a terrible disease.
Carole is preceded in death by her parents; Walter F Luskin and Helen (Farrington) Luskin; her in-laws. Harry E. Benson and Florence (Sprague) Benson; her half-sister, Geraldine Rasmussen and husband, Roger Rasmussen; her daughter, Lisa A. Migliore; and her grandson, Clifford I. Benson.
Carole is warmly remembered for her generous heart, her excellent cooking, her giving spirit and her love of life.
A celebration of Carole’s life will occur at Watermark on March 16, 2024, from 1-4:00pm. We look forward to sharing and reflecting upon pleasant memories with our family and friends.