Benson, Gloria Martell August 31, 1929 - May 25, 2016. 86, of Spicer died Wednesday, May 25, 2016, at her home. Her funeral service will be 2:00 pm, Tuesday, May 31st, at Hope Presbyterian Church in Spicer. Visitation will be from 6-8:00 pm, Monday at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar and on Tuesday one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are with Harvey Anderson Funeral Home, Willmar. hafh.org. Gloria Elizabeth Martell was born in Winthrop, MN, on August 31, 1929, to parents Rev. E. A. and Esther (Dime) Martell. She graduated from high school in Alvarado, MN, in 1947 and went on to graduate from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN, summa cum laude, with majors in English and Speech, in 1950. After teaching in Long Prairie and Benson, MN, she married Henry N. Benson, Jr., in 1952 in Grove City, MN. They made their home in St. Peter, MN, for the next 30 years, where their four children were born and raised. In 1981, she and Henry moved to their newly built home on Green Lake, where she lived until she passed away peacefully on May 25, 2016. It was important to Gloria to be home with her children during their early childhood years. She then began proofreading for the St. Peter High School, reading themes and correcting them for various English teachers, as this was something she could do at home. Once all of her children were in school, she pursued her Master's Degree in English at Mankato State College, receiving her degree in 1968. Gloria was involved in Trinity Lutheran Church as a library volunteer, as well as assisting in many vacation bible school programs. She became active in the League of Women Voters, served on the St. Peter School Board, and volunteered at South Elementary School. She was also involved in St. Peter Community Theater. She was a lay reader for Hope Presbyterian Church in Spicer, as well as the editor of the church's newsletter, The Hope Scope. Gloria also wrote programs and special services for Hope. Gloria was an accomplished writer, and wrote pageants for historical celebrations as well as the regular "Nature Notes" for the Green Lake Breeze. She loved photography and produced slide shows for ten years for Martin Luther Manor in the Twin Cities, using her love of poetry and her own slides. She belonged to Indian History Hunters and was an award-winning member of the Little Crow Photography club during her time at Green Lake. For many years, she acted as Class Agent for her Gustavus class of 1950, writing regular letters and keeping in touch with her classmates. Gustavus Adolphus College honored Gloria in 2012 with one of 150 Sesquicentennial awards to Gustavus alumni. Her love of Gustavus was expressed in many ways, including generous gifts to the scholarship funds both she and Henry had established. Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, E. A. Martell and Esther Martell, and her husband, Henry N. Benson, Jr. She is survived by her sister, Enid Olson, of Paynesville, MN; children Julie (Dominick) Italiano of Merriam, KS, Melanie (Mark Nelson) Benson of Minneapolis, MN, Todd Benson of Little Canada, MN and Craig Benson of Spicer, MN; as well as grandchildren Rebecca Benson, Anna Italiano, Nikko Benson, Brittany Benson and Rush Benson; nieces Marilyl de los Santos, Dawn Beckley and Lane Updegrove; and nephews John and Bill Weigelt, as well as all the children of her heart.