Douglas K. Benson, 79, passed away on December 6th, 2023, from complications due to duodenal cancer.
Doug was born on June 8th, 1944 in Marysville, California, to Dr. Reo and Mary (Lamb) Benson. They moved to Taos, New Mexico, following his father's release from the military after World War II. Doug met his wife of 58 years, Cecille (Cele) Herrell Benson, while attending New Mexico State University. They were married on August 21st, 1965. He went on to get a Ph.D. at the University of New Mexico.
Doug began his career at Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska, where he taught Spanish and French. There, Doug and Cele had their two sons, Eric and Craig. In 1980, he got a teaching position in the Department of Modern Languages at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, where he was a Professor of Spanish until his retirement in 2015.
Doug was a man of many passions. He was never more at home than when in the mountains of New Mexico, although he loved the Flint Hills, too. He enjoyed music, especially playing classical guitar. He was a dedicated teacher, constantly adopting new teaching methods and caring for his students in a way that made them feel like family. Doug was a strong advocate for multiculturalism and diversity at the University. He loved Spanish and Latin American culture; traveling with students to Granada was a highlight of his teaching career.
Never one to sit still, after "retirement" he threw himself into volunteering at the Flint Hills Community Clinic as a translator, continued in a leadership position for the KSU Latinx advocacy group Alianza, was active in the Northview neighborhood where he lived, and functioned as Senior Warden for St. Luke's Episcopal Church. He did all of this while caring for his wife, keeping up with his bird feeders and yard, and spending time with his grandchildren.
Doug is survived by his wife, Cele Benson; siblings, Karen Benson, Don Benson, and Patti Timmons; his children, Eric (Emily) Benson and Craig (Kelly) Benson; and six grandchildren, Margaret, Josephine, David, Riley, Laura, and Casey. His family meant everything to him. Respected by colleagues and beloved by neighbors, students, and family, he will be sorely missed.
Funeral services will be held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Wamego, Kansas, on Saturday, December 16th at 2:00pm. Information for both in person and virtual services are located at https://app.bluebutterfly.com/memorial/v2/doug-benson. You are also welcome to share your memories of Doug at this site. In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to the Flint Hills Community Clinic (https://mhkfreeclinic.com/)
The Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502, is assisting the family with service arrangements.
Online condolences may be left for the family through the funeral home website at www.ymlfuneralhome.com.