Mary Adeline Benson, 81, passed away January 9, 2024. She was born on July 24, 1942 on the Mosquito Grizzly Bear’s Head Lean Man First Nations in Saskatchewan to Emily Benson and Abraham Stone.

She was a member of the Red Pheasant Cree Nation and was raised in the North Battleford, Saskatchewan area and in Northern Montana. She was blessed to spend many of her early years with the Gillespie family in northern Montana. She lost her sight in her youth, but was very resilient and remained active in the family and in the community.

She attended the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind and served as a reporter for the Montana Association for the Blind for over 25 years. She enjoyed travelling, playing bingo, and spending time with family. Mary had a knack for making friends and made countless lifelong friends throughout her life’s journey. She lived for over 35 years at the Downtowner in Great Falls, Montana and spent many years in St. George, Utah living near her sister, Rose, as a long-time resident of the Bella Terra Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in St. George.

She is survived by her sister, Rose Anderson and her family; members of the Gillespie family; and her family members on the Red Pheasant Cree Nation and the Mosquito Grizzly Bear’s Head Lean Man First Nations. She was preceded in death by her mother, Emily Benson; her father, Abraham Stone; her sisters, Lena Stone and Angel Benson; her brothers, George Benson, Noel Stone, Solomon Stone, William Stone, and Vincent Benson.

• Date : 2024-01-09