The death of Flora Smith Amussen Benson, wife of President Ezra Taft Benson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Friday night came as no surprise to her family as her frail health had deteriorated the past couple of days, said a family friend Saturday.
"When I talked to Reed (the Bensons' older son) this morning, I got the impression she had gotten a little weaker the last couple of days," said Sheri Dew, family friend and author of President Benson's biography. "They started to sense her time was near."Dew said President Benson and other family members were with Sister Benson when she died of natural causes. She was 91.
Dew heard about Sister Benson's death during a Saturday morning phone conversation with Reed Benson.
"There's no way you can spend as much time with the Bensons as I did while I was working on the biography and not come to love them," Dew said. "I've been thinking about Sister Benson's death all day, especially about the gap she leaves, but she lived a full life and gave her all to her family and her husband. There's no sense of regret."
Sister Benson's devotion and energy had always been to her family, Dew said. "She was a very spunky, determined, strong, dedicated woman. She was absolutely faithful to the church and dedicated to her husband and children. She got the most joy and fulfillment out of raising her children, forging a strong family life and supporting her husband in what turned out to be a very public life."
Dew remembers evenings spent with the Bensons in their small den: "It was plain to see they adored each other. When she was with him, President Benson was whole. Their whole lives were absolutely intertwined; they were two very strong people who enjoyed a partnership."
Flora Parker McConkie, one of the Benson grandchildren, was named after her grandmother. McConkie moved from Florida to Huntsville, Texas, two days ago and says she feels sad that she doesn't have a picture of her grandmother to look at as the family hasn't unpacked yet.
"Death is always expected when someone reaches their 90s," McConkie said. "We're saddened by Grandma's passing, but we're grateful she had a long, full life. . . . I think Grandpa is at peace with her death, but he's going to miss her something awful."
McConkie traveled with President and Sister Benson for about two years as their personal assistant. She remembers her grandparents singing and dancing together and talking about family members.
"I think Grandma got the greatest joy from her family."
If she had to sum up Sister Benson's life, McConkie said her grandmother had done a "heap of living" - from being a farmer's wife to being the wife of a Cabinet member.
"Paul Harvey once said he had never seen President and Sister Benson together when they weren't holding hands. He was right. They were a team."
McConkie remembers her grand-mother's faith: "If there was a grandchild having a piano recital, Grandma would be down on her knees praying that all would go well. When I was traveling with them, she would say, `Pray for Grandpa' when (President Benson) approached the stand. She was a great example to us all.
"During the final evening, the family sang songs around her bedside. She died as she had lived - surrounded by her family and Grandpa."