Rev. Francis Benson
Died: Jan 4, 2016
Reverend Francis “Frank” Benson, 84, of Hackettstown, NJ, passed away on Monday, January 4, 2016 in Hackettstown surrounded by his loving family. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland on March 5, 1931, Frank was the son of the late Frank & Elizabeth Ledbetter Benson. Frank was born into a working class family and left school at the age of 14, not uncommon at that time. After he recognized that he was called to the ministry, he finished school through correspondence courses.
Ordained in 1961, Frank was a graduate of the University of Edinburgh both as an undergraduate and seminary student and earned his Masters of Sacred Theology at Union Theological College in New York. After his ordination on December 6, 1961, Frank was called to serve the Mt. Olivet Community Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn, NY until 1968. At that time, Rev. Benson was called to The Garden Memorial Presbyterian Church in Washington DC until 1975. He and his family then moved to Kearny, NJ serving as pastor of Knox Presbyterian Church until his retirement in 1996. While in Kearny, Frank became the chaplain of the Kearny Police Department, a volunteer position that he retained until the present time. Rev. Benson and his wife, Paula Primamore Benson moved to Hackettstown and switched his membership from the Presbytery of Newark to the Newton Presbytery where he was a member of several committees, most notably the Committee on Ministry. Additionally, he was elected Moderator of the Presbytery for one year. As a retired minister, he substituted as a guest preacher, moderator of session, or moderator of congregational meetings. He was proud to be the officiant of both his children’s weddings as well as his nieces, cousins, and friends.
In addition to his loving wife Paula, Frank is survived by his children Francis Roderick Benson and Nancy Elizabeth Hellriegel and their spouses, Beth Benson and John Hellriegel, as well as his grandchildren Margaret Benson, Francis Marshall Benson, Bruce Hellriegel, and Daniel Hellriegel.
A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church 298 Main St. Hackettstown N.J. 07840 on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 11 am with Rev. Amy Lincoln officiating and Rev. Birda Ferguson co-officiating. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High Street, Hackettstown, NJ, 07840. In Lieu of flowers, the family has asked that you please consider donating to your favorite charity or Frank’s favorite Johnsonburg Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center at http://www.campjburg.org in Frank’s memory. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.cochranfuneral.com.
Condolences:
Elder Carolyn Johns Gray, Clerk of Session
#29
May 3rd, 2016 7:35 am
Dear Paula,
Elder Annie Jenkins shared your letter regarding the passing of Rev. Benson. I have shared his obituary with the members of the church. From time to time, Rev. Benson
Angelica W
#28
February 13th, 2016 10:05 am
My deepest condolences on your loss. I hope you can take comfort in knowing that God promises in John 5:28 "Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice."
Art Hackett
#27
February 10th, 2016 1:33 pm
Dear Paula,
Just found out today about the passing of your beloved Frank. Please accept my most sincere condolences. He was very special to me, a truly spiritual man and a trusted and loyal friend. No one cared for the members of the Kearny Police Dept. more than he. No one wore the uniform with more pride. I will miss him deeply. may God console you and your family ar this time.
Rest in Peace "Rev"
John & Dorothy Gawronski
#26
February 10th, 2016 12:48 pm
Our sincere condolences to Paula and his family. The Rev brought the Lord to all of us and may the Lord bring him home. He will be missed at the KPD and to everyone he touched.
James Torrado
#25
January 14th, 2016 8:23 pm
My sincerest condolences to the family and friends of "The Rev." Benson . As previously noted by another member of K.P.D. , he was intact a fixture at The Kearny Police Dept. . I had the upmost pleasure of discussing various subjects of a spiritual nature with the Rev. . His heart was in fact genuinely directed towards the men and women of the Kearny Police Department . He will in fact be sorely missed . May God Bless and comfort his family and all who knew him , loved him , as well those he served and touched with God's love and kindness .
Respectfully ,
Ret. Det. James A. Torrado #185
Wendy Chandler
#24
January 10th, 2016 10:16 am
Paula, Nancy & family....it is with great sadness that I learned of Frank's passing. Frank was such a kind soul to me and truly one of God's blessings bestowed upon me during my time at Johnsonburg. I always enjoyed speaking with him and sharing stories of our Scottish heritage. May God continue to lift and support you, your families and all the people who were touched by the blessing of knowing Frank. Much love to you all always.
Drew and jessica Mullins
#23
January 8th, 2016 3:32 pm
Mrs Benson, Rod, Nancy and family, We are so sorry to hear the passing of Rev Benson. Rev. Benson was a great man and I miss his sermons to this day. He married us back in 1991 and before our marriage he gave us great words of advice. Church has not been the same since he retired from Knox and I have not found a minister yet who keeps my attention like Rev Benson did.
Jessica still talks about the days they went horseback riding as we now live only 5 minutes from the stables they went to.
I also have a fun memory of the both Rev Benson and Mrs Benson act they performed at the Scottish Ceilidh "Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better". That was a lot of laughs and I have it on Tape.
Again we are so sorry for your lose and we will keep you all in our prayers.
Marguerite Maloney
#22
January 8th, 2016 3:25 pm
Paula,
I am so sorry to hear about Frank. He was a fixture in our gym and my life for so many years. I was blessed to be part of your care from time to time. He was a wonderful man to know and I am sure God has a plan for him.
Love and Sympathy, Marguerite
Marge & Joe Caruana
#21
January 8th, 2016 7:29 am
I sincere condolences to Paula and her family. The Rev. Was a very special and devoted chaplain to the KPD and a good friend.
Doris A. Haring
#20
January 7th, 2016 3:53 pm
Doris A. Haring
It was a pleasure to have known Frank for the many years. His caring and devotion to the church and the people who came in contact with him have been blessed. He truly carried with him the Camp Johnsonburg's teaching--we all have "Self Worth", no matter where you are in your life. He shall always be remembered and loved.
Sherry Blackman
#19
January 7th, 2016 9:53 am
A remarkable man, a remarkable life. Watch out heaven!
Claudia K Tiger
#18
January 7th, 2016 9:06 am
Paula & Family,
Please accept my most heartfelt sympathies for your loss. Rev Frank brought so many gifts to the lives of many. May the loving memories of all the folks he touched bring you some comfort during this journey through grief. My prayers are with you.
Arthur & Annette Bundley
#17
January 6th, 2016 5:50 pm
Paula, So very sad to hear of you and your family's loss. Our hearts go out to each of you.
Arthur (from the fitness center).
Dick and Nancy Burke
#16
January 6th, 2016 8:43 am
Paula - We are so sad to hear of Frank's passing. He was a true Christian in every sense of the word. We will always remember him for his humor and kindness, not to mention the example his life represented to our children as they grew up. It was an honor to know him.
Christine Hanneken
#15
January 6th, 2016 6:54 am
No words will take away the sorrow, but may God be with you all at this time. Rev. Benson was such a great man who will be sorely missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Mark Beckert
#14
January 5th, 2016 7:43 pm
My deepest condolences to you and your family Paula, I always enjoyed the services he lead at church. He'll be missed.
Father Joe Mancini
#13
January 5th, 2016 5:57 pm
Paula, my sincere condolences to you and your family on Frank's passing. He was a man of faith and honor, as well as humor! Truly a "Christian gentleman" from top to bottom he will be missed. Be assured of my prayers at this sad time. May "the Rev" rest in peace.
Fr. Joe
Fred & Edna Hemsley
#12
January 5th, 2016 5:41 pm
We are truly saddened to hear of Frank's passing; but as all Christians
we are also confident he is now serving a new precinct in the same way he did while with us from Kearny.
Heidi Rundt
#11
January 5th, 2016 4:33 pm
Nancy and family,
I am so sorry ti hear about your father's passing. I know he will be terribly missed. I so remember spending time with both he and your mother at MBC when they would come to visit. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Harold Johnson and Dee Kromka
#10
January 5th, 2016 3:53 pm
Paula and family:
We are all poorer for our unique and beloved Frank have departed our presence. But we Christians dare to say, “Stay tuned.” God has blessings to offer which we only can imagine an hold onto until they are fulfilled.
As two people who lost our spouses after 36 years of intimate, everyday togetherness, we both know the strangeness and heartache of their absence. We have both been blessed by the goodness of what God brings to us into through surrounding family and friends who love and sustain us as God’s angels.
“Nothing has power to separate us from God..."
Karen Schaaf and family
#9
January 5th, 2016 12:29 pm
You will be dearly missed, Anam Cara.
Rev. Kathleen E. Jamhoury
#8
January 5th, 2016 11:09 am
Dear Paula- I have wonderful memories of Frank while I was in Newton Presbytery and particularly when he was moderator. From all I know about him, he was a true man of God.
You and the family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Lisa Gray
#7
January 5th, 2016 8:00 am
I will truly miss Frank's wit and devotion to the church! I'l always remember his parting words to me (every time we met) about my husband (who is also diabetic), "take good care of your husband and don't forget deserts". Yes we should all take good care of each other and figure out how to provide "treats" even in spite of reasons that hold us back.
cheryl weaver
#6
January 5th, 2016 7:33 am
My sympathy and prayers are with you and your family
Donald (Don) Kearney
#5
January 4th, 2016 10:15 pm
To Paula and Family:
I was saddened to hear of Frank's passing; I really enjoyed serving with him on various projects when I was on both the Committee on Ministry and the Permanent Judicial Commission. It always seemed that Frank and I got the most difficult cases, and his knowledge, capabilities and good humor made my burden much lighter. We frequently would sit together at Presbytery meetings, where I would especially enjoy his knack for double entendre comments while Diane kept telling us to keep quiet.
I know God's grace will sustain you and all of us who knew and loved Frank. My prayers go out to you and your family during this difficult time.
Neil and Dottie Kappers
#4
January 4th, 2016 9:03 pm
Mrs. Benson, we are so sorry to hear about Frank. You and the family are in our prayers. We are presently in Florida and won't be able to give you our condolences in person.
Steve Durkin
#3
January 4th, 2016 5:12 pm
My sincere condolences to Paula and the family of Frank. "The Rev" was a fixture at KPD, a true friend who cannot be replaced. He took his role as Chaplain to heart; doing ride-alongs with the officers, attending training, going to the firing range, attending every PBA function, etc. But it was his weekly trips to Headquarters, spending time with everyone from the Chief of Police to the newest patrolman, that I will remember most. He genuinely cared about each of us and our families and made it his business to know our business.
No one ever wore the uniform prouder. He will be missed.
Steve
Ron & Barbara Shaw
#2
January 4th, 2016 3:40 pm
So very sorry for your loss. Our thoughts & prayers are with all of you. He will be missed by many, many people. God Bless all of you. Ron & Barbara
Ray Olson Jr.
#1
January 4th, 2016 2:48 pm
Dear Rod/Beth and the Benson Family,
I was so sad to learn of this news today. While I didn't know Mr. Benson well, I had the pleasure of meeting him on a few occasions. Such a delightful and thoughtful man. Sounds as if he has inspired many over his lifetime. Our thoughts and prayers go out to your family.
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