Services were held today for Frances Josephine (Benson) Widmark Sr., a lifelong Sitkan who passed away May 1 in Anchorage, at age 88.
The service was held at 1 p.m. at the Salvation Army, with burial at Sitka National Cemetery. A reception followed at the ANB Founders Hall.
Frances was born on Sept. 24, 1926, in Sitka, the daughter of Mary and George D. Benson Sr. She never left Sitka except for unexpected occasions or while she was active in her organizations she believed in.
She attended Wrangell Institute for her high school education.
Frances was a member of Shee Atika Corp., Sealaska Corp., and Tlingit and Haida. She was a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary Sitka Post 13, Alaska Native Sisterhood, Camp No. 4, and the Sitka Russian Orthodox Auxiliary.
Frances was Kaagwaantaan from the Eagle Nest House and danced the, “Eagle Dance” to raise funds for Land Claims lawyers. She was the youngest to serve as secretary for Tlingit and Haida for Land Claims, and also served 45 years as secretary-treasurer for ANS Camp No. 4. She was also past president of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 13 and past president for the Southeast District.
She was president of the 49ers Women’s Bowling League; she loved bowling and traveling to state tournaments.
Frances worked many places – Mt. Edgecumbe hospital, Sitka Pioneers Home, Sitka Community Hospital, Sheldon Jackson College, Sitka Hotel and the Sheffield Hotel.
In her day, there was no day care, so when her children got sick, her job had to go.
Frances was very active in the Salvation Army Ladies Home League, sewing baby items for the unwed women and children in Anchorage. She was a volunteer raising funds for organizations fighting cancer, polio, heart disease and tuberculosis. She was a door-to-door volunteer, to let people know of these issues.
Frances was well-known for doing wedding receptions and wedding cakes, beadwork, catering and donating Easter Bread all through her life.
In her earlier years when there were no hospitals, Frances delivered babies and prepared the deceased for burial, accepting donations for help.
Frances was preceded in death by her parents, Mary and George D. Benson; her children, Anthony Edenshaw Jr., Randolph Edenshaw, Perry Edenshaw and Beverly Allison Widmark; her siblings, Clara Gauthier, Martha Joseph, George Benson Jr., and Frank Benson; grandchildren June and Jason Gregory and Tony Pruss; and great-grandson Jason Aldrich.
Surviving children are Sally Gregory of Anchorage, Stephanie Edenshaw of Sitka, Clifford Edenshaw of Sitka and Frances Widmark Jr. of Anchorage. Frances is also survived by her sister, Lorraine Chartrand of Sitka; grandchildren Tara Robinson and family of Anchorage, Michelene Edenshaw and family of Anchorage, Aaron Edenshaw of Seattle, Wash., Chad Edenshaw of Sitka, and Randy Edenshaw of Tacoma, Wash.
She has several great-grandchildren whom she called the great ones.
Pallbearers are Michelene Edenshaw, Tara Robinson, Lester Widmark, Terrence Kitka, Tracy Schaffer and Eperu Roe. Honorary pallbearers are Harvey Kitka, Wilma Bacon, Frank Ockart, Harold Kitka, Clifford Edenshaw and Hank Chartrand.
