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Armeda LaFrayne Benson
Longtime Seward resident
Armeda LaFrayne Benson,
68, died from leukemia
April 4, 2010, at
Providence Seward
Medical Center.
A private memorial will
be held at a later date.
Armeda was born Dec. 14,
1941, in Evart, Mich.,
to Arthur and Daisy
Frayne White. She lived
in Michigan until 1976,
when she moved to Alaska
with her daughters Amy
and Connie.
"Armeda attended barber
college and was the
first woman to finish
barber college in
Alaska," her family
wrote. "She subsequently
worked at Elmendorf
Officers Club barbering
and also contracted to
work at Galena Air Force
Base. She later operated
a retail second hand
store and barber shop in
Eagle River. Armeda
visited Seward and fell
in love with the bay and
town. In 1984, she moved
to Seward and operated
the Showcase Barber Shop
until 2001, when she
retired.
"In 1989, Armeda married
Gary Benson, and after a
short period in
Washington state,
resided at home in
Camelot until her
passing. She was a
perfect friend and wife
and always put others
first before her needs."
Gardening was her forte
and she was known for
her beautiful yard. Many
people stopped by to
admire her flowers.
"Armeda attended several
art schools, and her
natural artistic skill
in oil painting is
recognized by many as
she held art shows in
Seward and Anchorage,"
her family wrote. "She
was also involved with
the design and painting
of some of the murals in
Seward. Creativity was
her specialty as
illustrated by her
paintings, gardening and
numerous crafts she
developed and enjoyed.
Her mosquito houses were
unique."
Armeda is survived by
her husband, Gary;
daughter, Amy Kann and
husband Don; and
grandchildren, Jarred
and Grace; daughter,
Connie Babb and husband
Larry; and grandsons,
Matt
and Jackson. She is also
survived by her
stepchildren, Tanya
Kesmodel of Chicago,
Mendy Benson
of Idaho, Chad Benson of
Reno, Nev., Kara Bullock
of Georgia and Gary
Byrnes of Washington;
and two sisters, Berneda
and Berniece; and a
brother, George, all of
Michigan. She also
leaves seven
step-grandchildren and
numerous nieces and
nephews.
Armeda was preceded in
death by her parents,
Arthur and Daisy Frayne
White.
Memorials may be sent in
Armeda Benson's name to:
National Psoriasis
Foundation, 6600 S.W.
92nd Ave., Suite 300,
Portland, OR 97223-7195,
or The Leukemia and
Lymphoma Society, P.O.
Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA
01202.
Arrangements were by
Peninsula Memorial
Chapel.
Source: Anchorage Daily News, 11 April
2010 |
