Margaret Benton was a woman who worked hard to take care of everyone else before herself. Marg (not Marge; as she would say, she didn’t have blue hair like Marge Simpson) passed away on Sept. 13, 2022 after suffering complications from COVID-19. Marg was a pillar not only of her family, but also of her community.
Marg was named after her mother and spent her youth being called Margie Ann, which her family often called her in her adult years when they wanted to rile her up. She grew up on a farm in Iowa and worked hard to help take care of the crops. She married an Air Force man and lived all over the country and even the world.
Marg’s son, Lewis, was born while she was living in England. She always called him her British souvenir. After 20 years of moving, Marg and her family settled in Los Banos. There she built a deeply joyous life with her partner Lee, her daughter Kara, her son-in-law Alex and her precious granddaughter Lilibet.
Marg lived in Los Banos longer than any other community in her life, and she was so happy to find a place to set down roots and raise her children. She joined Rotary and served as president multiple terms, she was on the hospital board, and she was elected as a school board trustee in 2016.
Marg’s joy was in helping others. She was everyone’s mom, making everyone she encountered feel comfort and peace. She has been described by many as a ray of sunshine. Marg is survived by her family and a community full of people who loved and respected her.
A scholarship will be created in her name to support high school graduates in Los Banos who want to continue studies in music. If you would like to donate, please contact the school district for information.
A celebration of Marg’s life will be held Saturday, Sept. 24 at 10 a.m. at 22891 W. Sunset Ave., Los Banos, followed by an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
